A polarimetric model for a dust-covered planetary surface

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Abstract
Two successive reflections within a smooth-sided, flat-bottomed cylindrical pit have been examined using ray optics and Fresnel's equations for reflection. At small phase angles, the light reflected out of the pit is partially polarized in the plane containing the light source, the emergent ray and the pit. A model for a dust-covered planetary surface is discussed, consisting of a distribution of cylindrical pits interspersed with smooth reflecting surfaces. Polarization curves calculated for such a surface show a strong similarity to polarization curves measured from dust-covered celestial objects as well as from dust samples measured in the laboratory. These polarization curves reveal a negative branch at low phase angles in addition to the broad positive maximum in the vicinity of the phase angle corresponding to reflection at the Brewster angle.

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