Development and calibration of a portable system for solar spectroradiometry

• Grant number: 19/06376-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2019
• End date: June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Luciano Bachmann
• Grantee: Eduardo Lopes Dias
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The measurement and monitoring of solar spectral irradiance, in particular that which is accounted for when calculating the UV Index, is highly useful for researchers of numerous fields and variable proficiencies in manipulation and maintenance of spectroscopy instruments. However, there is currently a noticeable scarcity of specialized equipment for such measurements, and specially of instruments that are sufficiently versatile, reliable and user-friendly for being widely adopted in academia. The project here proposed aims to remedy this deficiency through the development of a portable system for the measurement of solar spectral irradiance, with great emphasis put on ensuring its thermal and computational stability, thereby guaranteeing the reliability of its measurements. Furthermore, we also aim to assure the ease of use of the device by enabling it to continuously an reliably take measurements for several days without the need for user intervention, while also making its results available in real-time for the researcher. To carry out our aforementioned goals with this project, an optical system consisting of a spectrometer, optical fiber and an optical input appropriate for taking measurements in the spectral region between 280 -800 nm will be employed. The temperature around the spectrometer will be maintained constant through the use of a thermal container coupled with a pettier cooling apparatus. The entire system will be controlled through a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ computer, in which will be installed a Linux distribution and software for controlling the spectroradiometer and for data processing developed by the student in the Python3® programming language.