Acousto-Optical Tunable Filters (AOTFs) make use of the interaction between sound and light. To generate an ultrasound diffraction grating, a Radio-Frequency (RF) signal is applied to a piezoelectric transducer. The optical pass band can be controlled by adapting the properties of this transducer and the RF-signal. To achieve more precise control of the optical spectral bandwidth, we propose to use a multi-electrode array, consisting of five consecutive transducers. The Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) is then used to evaluate the efficiency of the coupling between the RF-signal applied to the transducer and the acousto-optical crystal. A higher VSWR indicates that more power is being reflected back and less is being absorbed by the transducer, which in turn results in a decrease in optical performance. The aim of this paper is to develop an RF driving system capable of compensating for the VSWR behavior, linked to the individual impedance matching network of each transducer. For this, the five transducer setups were electrically characterized. These measurements allow the development of an RF power compensation system, leading to an increase of applied power at the level of each transducer. Hence, the absorbed power at transducer level increases, resulting in improved optical diffraction efficiency.@en

The distribution and behavior of the vast accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans, often referred to as the 'plastic soup’, are heavily influenced by plastic debris coming from rivers and coastal areas. Currently, the location and dynamics of the oceanic ‘plastic soup’ is already well understood. However, the exact process behind the formation of this plastic soup remains incompletely comprehended. This knowledge gap can be linked, in part, to the absence of worldwide detailed spatiotemporal data collected from ground and space. This is specifically due to the lack of detection and imaging techniques with a high spatial and temporal resolution. To address this gap, an innovative concept is proposed based on
imaging spectroscopy. The goal is to address and further improve the observed spectral signatures of different plastics by imaging the observed scenery. In order to distinguish between these different kinds of plastics, a dedicated optical filtering system with a high resolution and revisit time has to be designed. Therefore, the concept is based on an Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF), specifically designed for remote sensing and imaging. In order to achieve a high temporal resolution, being able to capture the evolution and movement of plastic in the oceans, a constellation of satellites are foreseen. Therefore, a low flying platform and deployable optics are introduced. Flying at 300 km altitude instead of a typical > 600 km for Earth observation satellites, reduces the required imaging aperture. @en

We present an original acousto-optic tunable filter that is able to filter visible light from 400 to 650 nm and is designed to interact simultaneously with two polarizations. The filter shows an adjustable optical bandwidth and apodization capabilities. These features make it suitable for practical spectroscopic applications. Experimental validation is also presented.

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Current monitoring systems to detect sporadic E use ground-based setups, ionosondes, and the network of GNSS satellites in order to assess the phenomenon of sporadic E. This paper aims to monitor sporadic E using a miniature space-based platform in an atypical way. The setup consists of multiple radio-amateur beacon systems aboard satellites, each having a specific modulation and transmission scheme. This Radio Amateur Beacon System for the Investigation of the Ionosphere (RABSII) is coupled to a GNSS receiver, revealing the location of the platform. Multiple beacon data streams are sequentially sent from a satellite platform towards the Earth. By receiving and comparing the Signal-to-Noise ratios of these streams using a dedicated ground-based radio-amateur network of receiving stations, the presence of sporadic E can be determined, and a location-based model can be built. The advantage of this miniaturized, low-power, low-cost instrument is its ability to be put on any satellite platform in the future in order to map sporadic E.@en

Acousto-Optical Tunable Filters (AOTFs) are a promising technology, exceptionally suited for advanced applications in spectroscopy and imaging across various scientific fields, including space exploration. This is due to their flexibility and high-speed functionality for precise wavelength selection via periodic modulation of the crystal’s refractive index using sound waves. These AOTFs are in turn driven by Radio Frequency (RF) signals through a transducer creating sound waves inside the crystal. This work presents a detailed comparison of three distinct topologies of Radio Frequency Power Amplifiers (RFPAs) for driving these AOTFs within the 30 to 300 MHz frequency range. The analysis focuses on three critical parameters: efficiency, bandwidth, and linearity, which are essential for optimizing the performance of AOTFs. By evaluating the trade-offs among these parameters, this research aims to identify the most effective design approach for RFPAs in this application context.@en

Diffraction of optical waves by an acoustic grating is a well-known phenomenon that enables the design of very versatile devices useful in photonic systems. For example, Acousto-Optic Tuneable Filters (AOTFs) can be dynamically tuned by radio-frequency signals. Among possible material choice, tellurium dioxide crystal is often used for practical applications due to its high efficiency. In such a birefringent material, the anisotropic configuration is often used. A feature of this configuration is the sensitivity to optical input polarisation: a selective coupling between polarized modes occurs. The incident must be polarised and
the diffracted mode polarisation is orthogonal to the incident one.
However, during the design process a very specific operation point can be found that ensures the simultaneous diffraction of both the ordinary and the extraordinary optical modes. In this presentation, we introduce the design of AOTF in birefringent crystals and present the main parameters that are subject to trade-off. Acousto-optic diffraction efficiency is sensitive to the so-called phase matching condition between optical wave and the ultrasonic
wave. The offset from synchronicity is considered introducing a phase mismatch parameter. Diffraction efficiency evolution with respect to Bragg condition offset are illustrated. A custom device is finally presented that ensures simultaneous diffraction of both polarisation modes and compared to experimental results.@en

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of Class-E series-tuned radio-frequency power amplifiers (RFPAs), focusing on their design and optimization for high efficiency and performance. However, achieving optimal performance involves navigating trade-offs among efficiency, bandwidth, harmonic suppression, output power capability, and device stress. This work examines the trade-offs involved in the series-tuned (𝐿𝑠−𝐶𝑠) network and establishes the bounds for its quality factor using computer-aided harmonic balance (HB) simulations. Additionally, it explores optimal harmonic termination strategies to enhance the performance and efficiency of the design. Finally, a novel methodology using harmonic termination is proposed, simplifying the design process by eliminating the need for traditional load-pull extraction methods.@en

The AOTF-based NO2 camera is a remote sensing instrument primarily aimed at imaging and quantifying the NO2 field above cities or in industrial plumes. The measurement principle consists in acquiring a number of spectral images of the scene at selected wavelengths. Each pixel is therefore recording a discrete spectrum of the radiance collected in its acceptance cone, enabling the retrieval of the NO2 column density in its optical path by application of the DOAS method on the measured spectrum. The core element of the instrument principle is the acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF). This device works under the principle of the acousto-optical interaction, the coupling of the light electric field with the modulation of the crystal lattice by a shear acoustic wave created by a transducer. The coupling takes place at a single wavelength, and diffracts that part of the spectrum into another direction. By blocking the undiffracted light beam, and imaging the diffracted order, one can capture a monochromatic image of the scene. We propose to expand the capabilities of the NO2 camera by exploiting another aspect of the acousto-optic interaction. The coupling between light and sound actually takes place in a birefringent crystal (TeO2), and one usually works with a single linear polarization of the incoming light (e-light, or o-light). The two polarization components are diffracted in different directions. If the current design is modified such that the two components can be imaged, then an information on the degree of linear polarization of the light can be obtained. In the atmosphere, the scattering of light by air (Rayleigh), and particles (Mie) is controlling the state of polarization of the scattered solar light. Hence, aerosols not only introduce a smooth spectral signatures, but also a change of the state of polarization. The proposed modification of the NO2 camera design can provide some sensitivity on this, potentially enhancing the scientific return of the instrument with aerosol retrievals capabilities. The new instrumental design will be presented, and vector radiative transfer simulations will be produced to estimate the benefit of this change.@en

Acousto-Optical (AO) devices are not only used for filtering purposes in spectral
imaging, but also in optical communications and spatial tracking systems. Some AO devices with space applications are AO Tunable Filters (AOTFs), Modulators (AOMs), Deflectors (AODs) and Frequency Shifters (AOFSs). Though these device’s applications differ, they are all controlled with Radio-Frequency (RF) signals. These signals are converted by a transducer into an acoustic wave, which propagates inside the AO device. The interaction between the incoming
light and the acoustic waves inside the birefringent AO material creates multiple output beams. This interaction can result in filtering, modulation, deflection or frequency shifting, depending on the AO device in question. This research focuses on the design of a flexible, uniform RF generator, applicable to all AO devices in the space applications domain. The RF output maximizes the performance of the AO device, while the use of components available in space
qualified grades eases integration with future space missions. Its design is a key step towards a miniaturized, space qualified, general-purpose RF generator. This research presents schematics, design and preliminary component test results.@en

In the last couple of years, the use of weak signal propagation reporter (WSPR) has grown significantly in the radio amateur community and beyond. This protocol allows to probe potential propagation paths between radio transceivers, operating at a low-power level. The protocol decodes the received signals and translates them into appropriate signal-to-noise ratio levels, which reveal the possible propagation paths between the transmitter and receiver using ionospheric reflections. In this article, specifically the 160-m radio amateur band is addressed. This band used less intensity for WSPR communication, compared to the other radio amateur bands (80 m and 40 m). Additionally, the 160-m band has specific features such as the link between propagation performance and the Earth’s electron gyro-effect. The aim of this article is to address these features experimentally. First, two identical 160-m band WSPR receiver stations are conditioned to compare the performance of different 160-m band antennas. Each setup, separated by a limited distance, generates almost identical SNR reports, allowing the comparison between the two antennas. Second, a more extended experimental investigation of the propagation path performance on the 160-m band reveals information on the radio wave behaviour between the transmitter and receiver. The first experiment allowed the identification of the most optimal antenna, specifically in the 160-m band. The second experiment shows that the SNR values can vary depending on the polarization shift of the received signal. Possibly, this can be linked to the effect of the magnetic field of the Earth via the electron gyro-frequency.@en

Currently, the amount of space debris is increasing rapidly due to the tremendous amount of satellite launches. Having an autonomous re-entry system aboard satellites at their end-of life, creates possibilities in the frame of lowering space debris, as well as for sample return from space. This paper aims at describing two possible deployment systems for the Thermal Protection System. Also, the integration of an onboard Fibre Bragg Grating-based shape monitoring system, coupled to an adaptive control system is described. Additionally, several re-entry trajectory steering systems are investigated, combined with an inflatable concept analysis. The combination of a deployable Thermal Protection System, an onboard closed feedback loop for shape monitoring, and the ability to adapt the shape of the Thermal Protection System, creates the possibility to design an autonomous dynamically steered re-entry system.@en

An instrument capable of imaging the field of NO2 in various open-air situations has been designed, manufactured, and tested. It is an improved version of the NO2 camera relying on an AOTF (acousto-optical tunable filter) which has demonstrated, amongst other things, its capability to quantify the NO2 released by power plant smokestacks. The improved version which is presented has a larger field of view, a higher frame rate, and better spectral registration performance. The working principle of the instrument has been preserved: by driving the AOTF with the appropriate acoustic frequency, a spectral image of the scene captured by the camera is recorded at a particular wavelength. The recording of a number of spectral images allows to form an hypercube: two spatial dimensions, and a spectral one. While the earlier instrument was relying on a handful of wavelengths to quantify the slant column density of NO2 observed in each pixel line of sight, the new instrument can now record "continuous" portions of the visible-light spectrum, typically between 440, and 460nm, where the NO2 exhibits some of its largest absorption lines. When the target is stable, like the air observed above a city skyline, the NO2 camera has enough time to build a large hypercube, and the spectrum measured in each pixel can be processed by the DOAS (differential optical absorption spectroscopy) method. This approach is better suited when NO2 is expected across the entire scene, not just in the plume of a smokestack for instance. The new instrument will be presented, and results of measurements performed in an urban context will be shown. The performance of the NO2 camera will be discussed based on the results of an intercomparison with the MAX-DOAS of Uccle, Brussels, and other air quality stations. @en

The latest generation of nadir-looking air pollution monitoring instruments (e.g. Sentinel-5P) deliver daily global maps of tropospheric NO2 columns with an unprecedented spatial resolution and accuracy. Still, the ground pixel size makes the product unusable for applications targeting the assessment of personal exposure, or other street-level effects. While a lot of research is dedicated to upscaling the satellite products by the synergistic use of air quality monitoring stations and pollution dispersion models, there is a need for innovative instrumentation capable of bridging the street-level needs with the city-wide sampling of satellite NO2 maps. An innovative passive optical instrument has been developed, which is capable of imaging the field of NO2 above the skyline of a city. The measurement principle consists in recording a multispectral cube of the scene at several wavelengths providing a good sensitivity to NO2. A DOAS-like retrieval algorithm fits the abundance of NO2 seen by every pixel of the image. The product is a high resolution map of the NO2 above a city, with a spatial and temporal resolution unseen so far. We present the instrumental concept, and measurement approach. Data acquired above Brussels, Belgium, have been validated with a reference instrument, a MAX-DOAS spectrometer driven in an unusual way in order to sample the NO2 camera field of view. Excellent consistency between the two instruments was found, opening the way for further applications of this concept.@en

Introduction: VenSpec-H (Venus Spectrometer with High resolution), part of ESA’s EnVision M5 mission to Venus, is currently in Phase A (started in January 2019) in which the feasibility of the instrument is studied. The instrument successfully passed the mid-term mission consolidation review (May 2020). The mission selection review by ESA is planned beginning 2021. Scientific objectives: EnVision aims at the investigation of the geo-logical activity on Venus and its relationship with the atmosphere, in order to understand how Venus and Earth could have evolved so differently. The VenSpec suite consists of VenSpec-H and two other instuments, VenSpec-M, an IR mapper, and VenSpec-U, a UV spectrometer. The overall scientific objective of this suite is to search for temporal variations in surface temperatures and tropospheric concentrations of gases indicative for volcanic eruptions. Additionally, the study of surface-atmosphere interactions and weathering by mapping surface emissivity and tropospheric gas abundances is also part of the mission. The goal of the VenSpec-H instrument is to target different molecular species related to volcanism and surface changes on Venus. The measurement of the H2O and HDO constituents of the Venus’ atmosphere, as well as the probing of H2O, HDO, CO, OCS, SO2 in a 30 – 40 km altitude range is planned on the nightside and above the cloud top on the dayside. Several spectral windows are used to monitor these constituents in the range of 1 to 2.5 μm. VenSpec-H works in a nadir viewing geometry. Instrument design: VenSpec-H is a spectrometer, hence, the heart of the instrument consists of a spectrometer section where the incoming uniform light is diffracted into its spectral components. This section is cooled down to approximately -45 °C in order to suppress as much as possible the thermal background. This is achieved by means of a large dedicated radiator. The warm baseplate is kept around 0 °C (by means of a small warm section radiator). The warm baseplate is mounted to the spacecraft deck using three kinematic feet. The diffracting element in VenSpec-H is an echelle grating. The incoming light is first rendered parallel on a parabolic mirror before it hits the grating. The parallel light diffracted from the grating is focused by a dedicated optical system towards the detector. The cold spectrometer section is preceded by a warmer band selection section. It is a combination of a filter wheel and a butcher’s block of two horizontal filters (on top of the spectrometer entrance slit). The spectrometer section is followed by the detector section. The detector is an Integrated Dewar Detector Cooler Assembly (IDDCA). The dewar window sits in the exit aperture of the spectrometer section. The Focal Plane Array (FPA) is located a bit further in the focal plane of the spectrometer exit optics. The FPA is cooled by means of a cryocooler. Preliminary optical and thermal analysis and modelling has been performed. The instrument design relies partly on heritage from the NOMAD instrument, which is a spectrometer suite on board ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) satellite, a part of the ExoMars 2016 mission. Ongoing tests: Currently, thermo-mechanical prototyping work is performed using the facilities at BIRA-IASB, in order to prove the feasibility of some critical systems. One of the most critical elements in the VenSpec-H design is the cold section and its interconnection to a warm support structure. Several tests are planned. In a first series of tests, the thermal conductivity is investigated by using different types of feet. Using a fixed cold temperature at one side, and knowing heat injection at other side, a ΔT can be determined. In a second series of tests, the mounting mechanism of the cold section onto the warm section using a fixed connection on one side and a gliding pin on the other side, is tested. For this, an instrument prototype (including mass dummies for optical elements) is used, keeping the cold section at -25°C, while the warm base plate is at +20°C, the retraction and dilatation of the cold section is measured using capacitive sensors. The different results obtained during these tests will be presented at the conference. Acknowledgements: This work has been performed with the support of the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO), with the financial and contractual coordination by the ESA Prodex Office.@en

Auroras can be observed at the north and south pole of the Earth. At these locations, the Earth magnetic field enters the atmosphere, causing ionization of the atmospheric constituents. Due to this phenomenon, different optical wavelengths are emitted from these constituents, causing the typical spectacular displays. Several optical wavelengths are representative for the auroral emission. The purpose of the described instrument is to measure the degree of linear polarization of the northern lights, in order to detect and confirm previous observations in which only a low level of polarization was seen. The instrument is capable of resolving the polarization measured at any wavelength in the visible region, using two optical chains, each containing an acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF). The latter is responsible for the selection of the desired optical wavelength and projects the two polarized beams onto an optical detection system. The driving of the AOTF, using a radio-frequency (RF) signal, is a key-element in establishing trustworthy results. The design of this double RF chain, consisting of a generator, an amplifier, and the necessary circumjacent electronics, is described in the study. In addition , the optical setup of the instrument, together with the detection system is explained. The instrument will be used in the harsh environment of the pole regions, so it must be able to withstand these weather conditions. Hence, a thermal compensation system is necessary and is also described.
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The Airborne ROmanian Measurements of Aerosols and Trace gases (AROMAT) campaigns took place in Romania in September 2014 and August 2015. They focused on two sites: the Bucharest urban area and large power plants in the Jiu Valley. The main objectives of the campaigns were to test recently developed airborne observation systems dedicated to air quality studies and to verify their applicability for the validation of space-borne atmospheric missions such as the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI)/Sentinel-5 Precursor (S5P). We present the AROMAT campaigns from the perspective of findings related to the validation of tropospheric NO2, SO2, and H2CO. We also quantify the emissions of NOx and SO2 at both measurement sites. We show that tropospheric NO2 vertical column density (VCD) measurements using airborne mapping instruments are well suited for satellite validation in principle. The signalto- noise ratio of the airborne NO2 measurements is an order of magnitude higher than its space-borne counterpart when the airborne measurements are averaged at the TROPOMI pixel scale. However, we show that the temporal variation of the NO2 VCDs during a flight might be a significant source of comparison error. Considering the random error of the TROPOMI tropospheric NO2 VCD, the dynamic range of the NO2 VCDs field extends from detection limit up to 37 (2:61016 molec. cm-2) and 29 (21016 molec. cm-2) for Bucharest and the Jiu Valley, respectively. For both areas, we simulate validation exercises applied to the TROPOMI tropospheric NO2 product. These simulations indicate that a comparison error budget closely matching the TROPOMI optimal target accuracy of 25% can be obtained by adding NO2 and aerosol profile information to the airborne mapping observations, which constrains the investigated accuracy to within 28 %. In addition to NO2, our study also addresses the measurements of SO2 emissions from power plants in the Jiu Valley and an urban hotspot of H2CO in the centre of Bucharest. For these two species, we conclude that the best validation strategy would consist of deploying ground-based measurement systems at well-identified locations.

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Acousto-optical tunable filters (AOTFs) are still little known to the Earth atmosphere remote sensing community. The bulk of passive atmospheric remote sensing instruments remains divided into two families: those relying on interferometric techniques (mostly for the long-wave absorbing species), and those based on diffraction gratings (better suited for UV-VIS absorbing species). Still, AOTFs have some unique features which should deserve more attention, in particular their angular acceptance, and their polarization sensitivity. The first one because it allows to work in an imaging setup, the second because many atmospheric processes have a polarizing effect. In this paper, we will present different AOTF-based instrument concepts (or even prototypes) which take advantage of these features in order to improve the sate-of-the-art of measurement techniques in several fields of atmospheric science. We will first present the improved NO2 camera: its new capabilites, the subsystems which have been changed, and some preliminary results. Then, we will discuss two other potential applications: the study of the solar spectral irradiance variability in the UV, and the detection of auroral polarized emissions. For each concept, we will discuss the current challenges faced by the existing instruments, and analyze how the use of AOTFs could overcome them. A suggestion for the AOTF selection will be made, and the expected instrument performance will be estimated.@en

A deeper insight into the performance of a Hilbert transform and PLL-based generation technique for space missions. The use of an RF generator is quite common in lab testing environments as well as in commercial applications. Many different RF generation techniques exist, both analog and digital. The frequency-domain sets the complexity of the circuit. It is commonly accepted that the higher the frequency, the more complex the design becomes. Designing for space applications change things quite drastically. Elements as survivability, radiation, and redundancy also come into play. Taking into account that adaptations are not any longer possible after launch, implies that the implemented design has to be one hundred percent robust. The complexity rises when designing for scientific missions like for NASA or ESA because of the more severe imposed constraints. This article tries to give an idea about how to design a pure sinewave RF generator at rather low frequencies (< 500 MHz) for a scientific mission capable of surviving under the harsh environmental conditions of space, dealing with the space agency restrictions and limited availability of approved electrical components.@en

The performance of an acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF) depends on several key parameters, such as the diffraction efficiency and the applied RF signal at the external network of the transducer. The latter has a specific bandwidth in which its efficiency is high. The goal of this paper is to experimentally investigate the relationship between the electrically matched RF bandwidth and the achieved diffraction efficiency, especially at the edges of the RF frequency band. The experiment revealed that the impedance matching is not completely correlated to the diffraction efficiency. Temperature measurements on the AOTF under test show that, at one edge of the tuning range, the RF signal is converted into a noninteracting acoustic mode.@en

The ALTIUS Mission (Atmospheric Limb Tracker for Investigation of the Upcoming Stratosphere) aims at the development of a limb sounder based on a small satellite concept (i.e. PROBA-Next small platform). ALTIUS will monitor the distribution and evolution of stratospheric ozone at high vertical resolution in support of operational services and long term trend monitoring. It will provide detailed stratospheric profile information at high vertical resolution, which is a valuable addition to ozone total column for data assimilation systems based on nadir sounders used by operational centers. In addition, some secondary scientific mission objectives are targeted, including measurements of vertical concentration profiles of other atmospheric species. The ALTIUS Mission was first proposed by the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy and, after several studies in different programmes within ESA, is now being developed as an element of ESA's Earth Watch Programme currently with the participation of Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg and Romania. The ALTIUS Mission concept consists of three spectral imagers flying at an altitude of approximately 700 km Sun- Synchronous Orbit on-board the next generation of PROBA platform. The ALTIUS Instrument shall allow observation of the Earth's atmospheric bright limb in an extended spectral region from the Ultraviolet to the Short Wave Infrared (SWIR). In addition, the ALTIUS instrument shall perform solar and stellar occultation observations in the dark limb. The ALTIUS Instrument three hyperspectral channels are based respectively on Acousto-Optic Tuneable Filters (AOTFs) in the Visible (440-800nm) and SWIR (900-1800nm) range, and a cascade of Fabry Perot Interferometers (FPI) in the UV (250-370nm). The use of tuneable active spectral filter shall allow the ALTIUS Instrument to perform observations with a spectral resolution ranging between 1nm and 10nm in an extremely versatile operational concept. The use of the AOTFs and Fabry Perot technologies constitutes a novelty in the limb sounding missions and its development critical aspects as well as its performances have been proven in the frame of an extensive Instrument predevelopment phase. In this phase the critical technologies necessary to ensure the performance and functionalities of the ALTIUS Instrument have been designed, developed and qualified. In particular the following pre-developments were undertaken to pave the way towards Instrument Preliminary Design Review: Design, manufacturing and qualification of the VIS AOTF Assembly and RF control electronics; Design, manufacturing and qualification of the UV FPI assembly stack and control electronics; Development and qualification of UV filters and coatings. Design and manufacturing of sensor electronics based on selected CMOS sensor for UV and VIS channels; Design, manufacturing and partial qualification of the Instrument mechanism; Bread-boarding of the full VIS channel for functionality and end-to-end performances verification. This paper presents the status and main results of the above-mentioned ALTIUS Instrument pre-development activities. In particular: major outcomes during the development process, achieved performances and lessons learned for the continuation of the ALTIUS Instrument flight model design are being highlighted.

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