Publication Abstracts

Kawata and Hansen 1976

Kawata, Y., and J.E. Hansen, 1976: Circular polarization of sunlight reflected by Jupiter. In Jupiter: Studies of the Interior, Atmosphere, Magneteosphere, and Satellites. T. Gehrels, Ed., University of Arizona Press, pp. 516-530.

The detection of circular polarization of the sunlight reflected by planets is a new development which has yet to be exploited for remote investigations of the planets. In this chapter, the circular polarization observations of Jupiter are described, and the circular polarization of other planets is discussed to the extent that it aids the interpretation of the Jupiter data. The evidence strongly supports the interpretation that the circular polarization arises from scattering by aerosols in a gaseous atmosphere.

Accurate calculations of the circular polarization are made for multiple scattering by an atmosphere with spherical aerosols, as a function of the particle size and refractive index and the mixing ratio of aerosols and gas. The calculations for spheres and the few available circular polarization observations of Jupiter permit only very limited constraints to be placed on the haze and cloud properties of the atmosphere of Jupiter. However, multispectral circular polarization observations, combined with measurements of the linear polarization and of intensity, would permit detailed analysis of atmospheric aerosol properties.

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BibTeX Citation

@inbook{ka05000n,
  author={Kawata, Y. and Hansen, J. E.},
  editor={Gehrels, T.},
  title={Circular polarization of sunlight reflected by Jupiter},
  booktitle={Jupiter: Studies of the Interior, Atmosphere, Magneteosphere, and Satellites},
  year={1976},
  pages={516--530},
  publisher={University of Arizona Press},
  address={Tucson},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - CHAP
ID  - ka05000n
AU  - Kawata, Y.
AU  - Hansen, J. E.
ED  - Gehrels, T.
PY  - 1976
TI  - Circular polarization of sunlight reflected by Jupiter
BT  - Jupiter: Studies of the Interior, Atmosphere, Magneteosphere, and Satellites
SP  - 516
EP  - 530
PB  - University of Arizona Press
CY  - Tucson
ER  -

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