Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
08:44
Fabrication and Testing of Photonic Thermometers
Published on: October 24, 2018
Performance evaluation of a thermal Doppler Michelson interferometer system.
Reza Mani1, Steven Dobbie, Alan Scott
1Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada. rmani@stpl.cress.yorku.ca
Applied Optics
|December 2, 2005
Summary
Stratospheric Wind Interferometer for Transport studies (SWIFT) uses a thermal Doppler Michelson interferometer to measure stratospheric winds. This study reports on the test bed results of this novel instrument.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric science
- Optical physics
- Remote sensing
Background:
- Stratospheric wind measurements are crucial for understanding atmospheric dynamics and transport.
- Existing satellite instruments have limitations in measuring wind velocities across the desired altitude range.
- The Stratospheric Wind Interferometer for Transport studies (SWIFT) is a proposed limb-viewing satellite instrument designed to address these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavior of individual components and their combination within the SWIFT instrument's test bed.
- To assess the feasibility of using a thermal Doppler Michelson interferometer for stratospheric wind velocity measurements.
- To report on the performance and results obtained from the SWIFT instrument test bed.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a thermal Doppler Michelson interferometer as the primary sensing element.
- Employing narrowband tandem etalon filters made of germanium for spectral line selection in the thermal spectrum.
- Applying phase-stepping interferometry, a technique also used by the Wind Imaging Interferometer.
- Detecting Doppler shifts caused by winds using a thermal emission line of ozone near 9 micrometers.
Main Results:
- Successful setup and operation of a test bed including the Michelson interferometer and etalon filters.
- Investigation into the performance characteristics of individual instrument components.
- Analysis of the combined behavior and performance of the integrated interferometer and filter system.
- Reporting of preliminary results from the test bed experiments.
Conclusions:
- The test bed setup provides a foundation for evaluating the SWIFT instrument's capabilities.
- The study demonstrates the potential of the thermal Doppler Michelson interferometer for stratospheric wind measurements.
- Further development and validation are necessary to fully realize SWIFT's potential for atmospheric transport studies.
