Polarization sensitivity analysis of an earth remote-sensing instrument: the MODIS-N Phase B study

摘要

Abstract: In many recent earth remote sensing instruments, polarization insensitivity assumes great importance. This follows from a desire for greater accuracy. This can only be achieved if the instrument response is independent of scene polarization induced by illumination geometry and atmospheric aerosol content. At Hughes Danbury Optical Systems (HDOS), we have developed polarization analysis software that employs Jones matrix formalism to calculate the polarization sensitivity of an instrument design. This code analyzes the full ray bundle at its angles of incidence for each optical surface. Input consists of the system ray trace and the thin film coating designed at each surface. Because we can determine the polarization sensitivity of each optical surface, it is possible to mitigate polarization effects by iteration of the optical and coating designs. We provide a case study using our MODIS-N Phase B Study, where analysis indicated that a polarization sensitivity of $LSEQ 2% was achieved in all desired spectral bands at all pointing angles, per specification. Polarization sensitivities have been reported as high as 10% in similar remote sensing instruments. !8