CIRRIS-1A interferometer: radiometric analysis.
The CIRRIS-lA spectroradiometer system is designed to obtain spectral and spatial airglow data on the shuttle platform over a global extent. The sensor system includes a Michelson interferometer which exhibits a noise equivalent sterance [radiance] (NER) of 2 x 10(-13) W cm(-2) sr(-1) Hz(-1/2); and at a resolution of 0.964 cm(-1) (scan time 9.1 s) exhibits a noise equivalent spectral sterance [radiance] NESR of 7 x 10(-14) W cm(-2)sr(-1)/cm(-1). The entire optical subsystem, silicon-arsenic focal-plane, off-axis high-rejection telescope, and removable cover are cooled below 20 K. The measured performance is shown to agree with theory to within a few percent. Noise-equivalent-sterance [radiance] per root-Hz is recommended as a figure of merit for interferometers that is independent of the specific operating conditions; i.e., mirror velocity, scan time or transform size.
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