Atmospheric Composition from Polarimetry

Polarimetry is extremely sensitive to the following scattering particle characteristics:

1. • Size
   

2. • Shape
   

3. • Index of refraction (n)
   

4. • n(λ) = composition
   

Coffeen & Gehrels (1969) measured multiband optical polarimetry of Venus through a range of phase angles. Hansen & Hovenier (1974) used Mie scattering calculations to determine that spherical droplets of sulfuric acid dominate the scattering environment in the Venusian atmosphere.

40 years later, I aim to perform the same experiments on exoplanets.

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