Symmetry and structure of reflection matrices of celestial bodies with particulate surfaces

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...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Hovenier, J.W., Muñoz, Olga
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/135457
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/135457
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Planets and satellites: surfaces
Planets and satellites: atmospheres
Polarization
Scattering
Descripción
Sumario: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.