Spectropolarimetry for space object identification

Ralph Snel; Bogdan Vasilescu; Eugenio Di Iorio; Pierre Piron; Jérôme Loicq; Ivan Ferrario; Fabrizio Silvestri

doi:10.1117/12.2689038

23 October 2023 Spectropolarimetry for space object identification

Ralph Snel, Bogdan Vasilescu, Eugenio Di Iorio, Pierre Piron, Jérôme Loicq, Ivan Ferrario, Fabrizio Silvestri

Proceedings Volume 12737, Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications XX; 127370X (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2689038
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2023, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

A novel method for space object identification is proposed, based on full Stokes spectropolarimetry in the visible and near-infrared wavelength range. Space objects that have been previously detected and are illuminated by the sun can be observed with a telescope to simultaneously obtain intensity, spectra, and polarimetry, and compose light curves of these parameters as function of time. The intention is to thus assign a unique identification, or at least a classification to these objects. Single, double, and multiple reflections of sunlight off the space object (natural or artificial objects, including debris) will introduce spectrally dependent polarisation into the scattered light, the spectral signature of which is affected by the complex refractive index of the scattering materials and the geometry. The simultaneous measurement of the full Stokes vector allows separation of the light source unpolarised spectral signatures on the one hand from the polarisation spectral features on the other hand. To illustrate the concept, we have performed a number of simulations for double scattering off a small selection of materials, for a large range of scattering geometries. Examples of individual scattering geometries and statistical summaries of all geometries are presented. A demonstrator spectropolarimeter is being built, we present an overview of the design and the high level planning, as well as some predicted performance parameters.

Conference Presentation

(2023) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Ralph Snel, Bogdan Vasilescu, Eugenio Di Iorio, Pierre Piron, Jérôme Loicq, Ivan Ferrario, and Fabrizio Silvestri "Spectropolarimetry for space object identification", Proc. SPIE 12737, Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications XX, 127370X (23 October 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2689038

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