THEORETICAL MODEL AND DESIGN OF A NOVEL STATIC POLARIZATION WIND IMAGING INTERFEROMETER (NSPWII)

Abstract. Polarization array based polarization Michelson wind field detection interferometer is a new type of interferometer for detecting atmospheric temperature and wind field velocity. We proposed a theoretical model and design of the novel static polarization wind imaging interferometer (NSPWII). It consists of a group of polarizers and waveplates, a polarization beamsplitter, a field widened Michelson interferometer, a pyramid prism, and a polarization array. Based on the principle of polarization interference, a polarization array composed of four polarizers with 45° polarization directions differences is directly in front of the detector, and four modulated light beams from the pyramid prism pass through the four polarizers. Then, interferograms with four different intensity are imaged on the detector simultaneously, which further provides the atmospheric temperature and wind field velocity. The advantages of this instrument are static (no moving parts), achromatic, and temperature compensated. It is capable of measuring the upper atmospheric wind field in real time with a high precision.