Michael Pasqual, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Kerri Cahoy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords: Active polarimetry, orbital debris, space surveillance
Abstract:
We present the results of polarimetric measurements that may help remotely identify orbital debris fragments, thereby extending current space surveillance capabilities. A bench-top polarimeter (wavelength 1064 nm) was used to experimentally determine the polarimetric Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) of several common spacecraft materials and coatings, including glossy white paint, matte black paint, black Kapton®, silver Teflon®, aluminum, and titanium. Analysis of these measurements allowed us to estimate each material’s Mueller matrix and associated polarimetric properties as a function of the incident angle and (bistatic) in-plane scatter angle. Results revealed notable trends in the materials’ polarimetric signatures. Specifically, the materials exhibited mostly weak diattenuation (D < 0.5) in all scatter directions, except for Kapton® and the two paints (D > 0.5 in the forward scatter direction). In terms of retardance (R), silver Teflon® exhibited a finite range of values (R = 30 to 120º) in all directions, while the other materials acted as mirrors (R = 180º) in the back scatter direction and had the full range of behavior (R = 0 to 180º) in the forward scatter direction. Finally, in terms of depolarization power (Delta), glossy white paint was a nearly perfect depolarizer (Delta = 1) in the back scatter direction, but sharply lost depolarization power (Delta = 0) at specular reflection. All other materials were mostly weak depolarizers (Delta < 0.5) in all scatter directions. These experimental findings may be used to develop requirements for a polarimetric laser radar that can interrogate debris fragments, identify their constituent materials, and infer their masses and other characteristics of interest. Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2015
Track: Non-Resolved Object Characterization