Alternative approach for optical monitoring of arbitrarily distributed substances

In this paper, we propose a novel approach, to the best of our knowledge, for optical monitoring of integral properties of arbitrarily distributed substances by means of a specially designed optical element radially quadratic transmittance-apodizing filter. The developed remote sensing method deals with nonmatrix detectors and requires only one-step conversion of light energy into an electrical signal to investigate the substance under study. Due to the fact that detectors work in the linear sensitivity range, the nonlinear uncertainty of measurements is minimal. Theoretical studies have been performed to derive formulas characterizing the substance parameters: distribution center, drift and drift speed of the center, radial standard deviation and its changing rate, and diffusion. The technique is applied to remotely monitor the process of reduction of the artificial snow area on the mock-up surface covered with a soil.