A highly miniaturized satellite payload based on a spatial heterodyne spectrometer for atmospheric temperature measurements in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

作者：Kaufmann Martin; Olschewski Friedhelm; Mantel Klaus; Solheim Brian; Shepherd Gordon; Deiml Michael; Liu Jilin; Song Rui; Chen Qiuyu; Wroblowski Oliver; Wei Daikang; Zhu Yajun; Wagner Friedrich; Loosen Florian; Froehlich Denis; Neubert Tom; Rongen Heinz; Knieling Peter; Toumpas Panos; Shan Jinjun; Tang Geshi; Koppmann Ralf; Riese Martin

来源：Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 2018, 11(7): 3861-3870.

DOI：10.5194/amt-11-3861-2018

A highly miniaturized limb sounder for the observation of the O-2 A-band to derive temperatures in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere is presented. The instrument consists of a monolithic spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS), which is able to resolve the rotational structure of the R-branch of that band. The relative intensities of the emission lines follow a Boltzmann distribution and the ratio of the lines can be used to derive the kinetic temperature. The SHS operates at a Littrow wavelength of 761.8 nm and heterodynes a wavelength regime between 761.9 and 765.3 nm with a resolving power of about 8000 considering apodization effects. The size of the SHS is 38 x 38 x 27 mm(3) and its acceptance angle is +/- 5 degrees. It has an etendue of 0.01 cm(2) sr. Complemented by front optics with an acceptance angle of +/- 0.65 degrees and detector optics, the entire optical system fits into a volume of about 1.5 L. This allows us to fly this instrument on a 3- or 6-unit CubeSat. The vertical field of view of the instrument is about 60 km at the Earth's limb when operated in a typical low Earth orbit. Integration times to obtain an entire altitude profile of nighttime temperatures are on the order of 1 min for a vertical resolution of 1.5 km and a random noise level of about 1.5 K. Daytime integration times are 1 order of magnitude shorter. This work presents the design parameters of the optics and a radiometric assessment of the instrument. Furthermore, it gives an overview of the required characterization and calibration steps. This includes the characterization of image distortions in the different parts of the optics, visibility, and phase determination as well as flat fielding.

• 出版日期2018-7-2