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Measurement of the point spread function in the ocean
Applied Optics
|June 23, 2010
Summary
A new instrument measures the ocean
Area of Science:
- Ocean optics
- Instrument development
- Radiometry
Background:
- Measuring the point spread function (PSF) in oceanic environments is crucial for understanding light propagation.
- Traditional methods require precise alignments over long distances, which are difficult to maintain at sea.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel instrument for in-situ measurement of the oceanic PSF.
- To enable easy and accurate PSF measurements at sea, even with limited alignment stability.
Main Methods:
- The instrument utilizes a CCD solid-state camera to capture the angular radiance field.
- It employs a pulsed Lambertian source for illumination.
- Measurements are performed over short ranges (within 10 m).
Main Results:
- The developed instrument allows for straightforward measurement of the PSF at sea.
- The system's large dynamic range facilitates PSF assessment over short ranges.
- The variation of PSF with depth and range can be effectively investigated.
Conclusions:
- This new instrument simplifies in-situ oceanic PSF measurement.
- It overcomes the limitations of traditional methods in marine environments.
- It enables detailed studies of PSF variability in the ocean.
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