Gold-black has emerged as a popular absorptive coating for thermal radiation detectors in aerospace applications. The performance and accuracy of thermal radiation detectors largely depends on the surface optical properties of the absorptive coating. If the absorptivity of the layer is directional or wavelength dependent, then so will be the detector gain itself. This motivates our interest in the manufacture, physical characterization, and study of the wavelength and polarization sensitivity of the directional spectral absorptivity of gold-black. A first-principle model based on lossy antenna theory is presented to predict the polarization dependent directional spectral absorptivity of gold-black in the visible and near infrared. Results for normal spectral absorptivity are in good agreement with measurements reported in the literature. However, suitable experimental data were not available to validate the theory for directional spectral absorptivity. Therefore, an experimental campaign to fabricate and measure the directional spectral behavior of gold-black had to be undertaken to validate the first-principle model. New in-plane bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurements for two thicknesses (~4 μm and ~8 μm) of gold-black laid down on a gold mirror substrate are reported in the visible (532 nm) and near-infrared (800 and 850 nm) for p- and s-polarizations. The investigation is then extended to a three-layer sample, which is shown to exhibit off-specular reflectivity. Described are processes for laying down gold-black coatings and for measuring their in-plane BRDF as a function of thickness, wavelength, and polarization state. A novel method for retrieving the directional absorptivity from in-plane BRDF measurements is presented. The influence of polarization on directional absorptivity is shown to follow our earlier theory except at large incident zenith angles, where an unanticipated mirage effect is observed. / Doctor of Philosophy / Instruments called thermal radiation detectors play an important role in monitoring the global climate from space. Gold-black is often used as an absorptive coating to enhance the performance of these instruments. Users need to know how gold-black coatings influence instrument performance. In general, coating properties depend on the wavelength and direction of incident radiation, as well as on an optical phenomenon called polarization. This dissertation investigates the relationship between the creation of gold-black coatings and their performance. A physical model is postulated for predicting the optical behavior of gold-black in the visible and near infrared. The model produces results that are in good agreement with measurements reported in the literature. However, suitable directional measurements were not available to validate the theory. Therefore, an experimental campaign was mounted to fabricate gold-black coatings and measure their optical behavior in order to validate the mathematical model. We observed the optical behavior of several of our gold-black samples of various thickness and over a range of wavelengths. We also studied a three-layer sample which was found to exhibit an unexpected behavior called off-specular reflectivity. Described are processes for creating gold-black coatings and for measuring and explaining their optical performance. During the course of this investigation an unanticipated mirage effect was observed for the first time.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/102097 |
| Date | 26 January 2021 |
| Creators | Munir, Nazia Binte |
| Contributors | Mechanical Engineering, Mahan, James R., Ahmadian, Mehdi, Nguyen, Vinh, Priestley, Kory James, Vick, Brian L. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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