Issue |
A&A
Volume 590, June 2016
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A81 | |
Number of page(s) | 6 | |
Section | Planets and planetary systems | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201527723 | |
Published online | 16 May 2016 |
Symmetry and structure of reflection matrices of celestial bodies with particulate surfaces
1
Astronomical Institute “Anton Pannekoek”, University of
Amsterdam,
Science Park 904,
1098 XH
Amsterdam,
The Netherlands
e-mail:
J.W.Hovenier@uva.nl
2
Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía,
CSIC, Glorieta de la Astronomía,
sn, 18008
Granada,
Spain
e-mail:
olga@iaa.es
Received: 10 November 2015
Accepted: 26 February 2016
The polarization of electromagnetic radiation reflected by a particulate surface is determined by a four by four reflection matrix. Symmetry relations are quite common for such reflection matrices. The reciprocity and mirror symmetry relations are combined to derive a third symmetry relation. These three relations are used to simplify reflection matrices for a variety of special directions of incident and reflected radiation. We show that some elements of the reflection matrix can vanish or equal other elements that have the same or opposite sign. Several applications of the results for studies of particulate surfaces and atmospheres above them are pointed out.
Key words: planets and satellites: surfaces / planets and satellites: atmospheres / polarization / scattering
© ESO, 2016
Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.
Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.
Initial download of the metrics may take a while.