METHOD OF DETERMINING LOCATION OF A SPHERICAL LIGHT SOURCE BY A GROUND SURVEILLANCE APPARATUS Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC G01S11/00 G01S5/16 G01S7/499 G01S17/06 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods of determining coordinates of electromagnetic radiation sources using ground-based surveillance means by recording and measuring polarization characteristics of detected radiation at several points. Method involves detecting light scattered by the earth's atmosphere from a spherical self-luminous source using an optical polarimetric device mounted in each station. Radiation is detected in two optical channels whose optical axes are inclined at a certain angle relative to the vertical and which rotate about a common vertical axis. Optical axis of the channels and their common axis of rotation lie in the same plane of reference. In each channel, polarization analyzers are installed in which the axes of the total transmission of the polarized component lie in the same reference plane. When the reference plane is rotated, the signal amplitude is measured from the polarized component of the detected radiation and the position of the plane is fixed, at which the signal in both channels is equal to zero, which means that source is in reference plane. At that moment, at each observation point, relative azimuths of the source are measured between the vertical plane of the source and the line connecting the points. With further rotation, angle of turn of reference plane relative to fixed position is measured, at which signal in one of channels becomes maximum. Based on measured angles at known base between points epicenter distance of source, its height and zenith angle are determined using established ratios. Trajectory of the object can be determined by fixing the values of the measured parameters over time.

EFFECT: possibility of locating a self-luminous object and its trajectory in the absence of direct visibility thereto.

1 cl, 2 dwg