Modified Solar Cell BRDF

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

9-2023

Abstract

Light curve analysis is an alternative method used to investigate satellite activity, particularly in situations where high-resolution imagery from ground-based optical systems is impossible, such as geosynchronous satellite observations. Glinting features found in reflection patterns from satellites provide important distinguishing information, but large errors have been documented when trying to model such features. The bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) describes the spatial distribution of a material’s reflectance as the ratio of the incident irradiance to scattered radiance, and BRDFs play an essential role in simulating light curves and interpreting light curve observations. BRDFs are a function of five variables, which includes two angles to describe the incident ray direction, two angles to describe the scattered ray direction, and wavelength. Due to their dependence on angles, BRDFs can be highly dependent on illumination and observation geometry. A common category of BRDF - microfacet models - uses a combination of geometrical optics with a stochastic description of surface roughness. Microfacet models typically make simplifying assumptions which trade simulation accuracy for improved computing speed in scene generation applications. Another class of BRDF - physical optics models - are typically more radiometrically accurate but have greater complexity and increased needs for computing power. Due to the geometrical optics basis of microfacet models, they fail to account for wave optics effects such as diffraction. Physical optics models easily account for wave effects, but there is an underlying assumption that the surface is completely characterized.

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Copyright © 2023 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference (AMOS)

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2023 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference (AMOS)

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