• Laser & Optoelectronics Progress
  • Vol. 58, Issue 17, 1701001 (2021)
Xiang Li, Ran Zhang, Shufang Lu, Muyin Lin, and Jinkui Chu*
Author Affiliations
  • School of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian , Liaoning 116086, China
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    DOI: 10.3788/LOP202158.1701001 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Xiang Li, Ran Zhang, Shufang Lu, Muyin Lin, Jinkui Chu. Ultraviolet Polarization Employing Mie Scattering Monte-Carlo Method for Cloud-Based Navigation[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2021, 58(17): 1701001 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Many organisms have developed the ability to navigate using polarized ultraviolet light of the sky. The energy and polarization of the ultraviolet (UV) band of skylight are much lower than those of the visible light, yet organisms utilize the UV band for navigation; this phenomenon is known as the "ultraviolet paradox of biological polarized light navigation". To explore the advantages of skylight polarization in the UV band, we first analyzed the single-particle scattering law based on the Mie scattering theory, studied the light transmission characteristics of clouds using the Monte-Carlo method, and finally completed the simulation of the full-sky polarization mode. The simulation results show that the UV band has a higher polarization retention after penetrating the cloud layer, and can still be used to complete navigation in unfavorable weather conditions such as cloudy and overcast skies. In this study, we demonstrate why the UV band in skylight polarization navigation is advantageous. Furthermore, the analysis of our hypothesis and study results provide guidance for the selection of the target waveband for bionic polarization navigation.
    Xiang Li, Ran Zhang, Shufang Lu, Muyin Lin, Jinkui Chu. Ultraviolet Polarization Employing Mie Scattering Monte-Carlo Method for Cloud-Based Navigation[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2021, 58(17): 1701001
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