AOTF-Based Spectral Imaging for Balloon-Borne Platforms

摘要: A balloon-borne Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF) hyperspectral imager is ideally suited to address numerous outstanding questions in planetary science. The spectral agility, narrowband wavelength selection, tolerance the near-space environment, and coverage afforded by AOTFs would enable investigations not feasible from ground-based facilities. Example use cases include synoptic observations of clouds on Venus giant planets, studies molecular emissions cometary comae, mapping hydrocarbon ices surfaces Triton, polarimetry. notional AOTF design includes both visible near-infrared channels take full advantage an AOTF. Although technical challenges such as detector cooling require further performance modeling, a logical choice for science balloon platform constitute next step demonstration enabling technology flight projects.