New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Acousto-optic tunable filter technology for balloon-borne platforms

Date:
October 23, 2014
Source:
World Scientific
Summary:
A balloon-borne acousto-optic tunable filter hyperspectral imager is ideally suited to address numerous outstanding questions in planetary science. Their spectral agility, narrowband wavelength selection, tolerance to the near-space environment, and spectral coverage would enable investigations not feasible from the ground. Example use cases include synoptic observations of clouds on Venus and the giant planets, studies of molecular emissions from cometary comae, the mapping of surface ices on small bodies, and polarimetry.
Share:
FULL STORY

Narrowband or hyperspectral imaging is a valuable technique used in planetary science for characterizing surfaces and surrounding environments. For example, it can be used to spatially map molecular species of interest on the surface of a solid or icy body, or to sound to different depths in a giant planet atmosphere. However, conducting narrowband or hyperspectral imaging of solar system targets from a balloon-borne platform presents several technical challenges, including mechanical failures and power requirements. These risks can be mitigated with the use of an electronically tunable filter such as an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF).

This paper describes the operating principles behind AOTFs, which are solid state devices that act as narrow optical filters when a traveling acoustic wave interacts with incident radiation in the crystal. Tunable cameras utilizing AOTFs provide great flexibility, since they are very compact, electronically programmable, and have low power requirements. They have extensive heritage in ground-based instruments with planetary science applications and they are radiation tolerant, hence they are well-suited to balloon-borne platforms.

While there is a myriad of potential applications of hyperspectral imaging to solar system targets, this paper discusses several example use cases for a balloon-borne AOTF imaging system: synoptic studies of clouds on the giant planets and Venus, the mapping of hydrocarbon ices on the surfaces of icy bodies, studies of cometary comae, and polarimetry. The paper describes a notional AOTF imager design that includes both visible and near-infrared channels, in order to take full advantage of the spectral coverage of an AOTF.

The AOTF technology would greatly benefit from flight demonstration on a high-altitude balloon. Balloons have long served as a proving ground for testing instrument prototypes for high-energy and particle astrophysics, solar physics, and Earth science, some of which eventually flew on satellites. AOTF technology would benefit similarly, with the ultimate goal of developing an AOTF-based instrument for planetary flight projects.


Story Source:

Materials provided by World Scientific. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Nancy J. Chanover, David G. Voelz, David A. Glenar, Eliot F. Young. AOTF-Based Spectral Imaging for Balloon-Borne Platforms. Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation, 2014; 1440005 DOI: 10.1142/S2251171714400054

Cite This Page:

World Scientific. "Acousto-optic tunable filter technology for balloon-borne platforms." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 October 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141023100733.htm>.
World Scientific. (2014, October 23). Acousto-optic tunable filter technology for balloon-borne platforms. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141023100733.htm
World Scientific. "Acousto-optic tunable filter technology for balloon-borne platforms." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141023100733.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES