Circular Spectropolarimetric Sensing of Vegetation in the Field: Possibilities for the Remote Detection of Extraterrestrial Life

C. H.Lucas Patty; Inge Loes Ten Kate; Wybren Jan Buma; Rob J.M. Van Spanning; Gábor Steinbach; Freek Ariese; Frans Snik

doi:10.1089/ast.2019.2050

Circular Spectropolarimetric Sensing of Vegetation in the Field: Possibilities for the Remote Detection of Extraterrestrial Life

C. H.Lucas Patty^*, Inge Loes Ten Kate, Wybren Jan Buma, Rob J.M. Van Spanning, Gábor Steinbach, Freek Ariese, Frans Snik

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

27 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Homochirality is a generic and unique property of all biochemical life, and the fractional circular polarization of light it induces therefore constitutes a potentially unambiguous biosignature. However, while high-quality circular polarimetric spectra can be easily and quickly obtained in the laboratory, accurate measurements in the field are much more challenging due to large changes in illumination and target movement. In this study, we measured various targets in the field, up to distances of a few kilometers, using the dedicated circular spectropolarimeter TreePol. We show how photosynthetic life can readily be distinguished from abiotic matter. We underline the potential of circular polarization signals as a remotely accessible means to characterize and monitor terrestrial vegetation, for example, for agriculture and forestry. In addition, we discuss the potential of circular polarization for the remote detection of extraterrestrial life.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1221-1229
Number of pages	9
Journal	Astrobiology
Volume	19
Issue number	10
Early online date	27 Aug 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2019.2050
Publication status	Published - Oct 2019

Funding

We dedicate this work to the memory of our dear friend, colleague, and the initiator of this project, Dr. Wilfred Röling, who unexpectedly passed away on Friday September 25, 2015. This work was supported by the Planetary and Exoplanetary Science Programme (PEPSci), grant 648.001.004, of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and partly by the Economic Development and Innovation Operative Programme (GINOP), grants GINOP-2.1.7-15-2016-00713 and GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00001 from the Hungarian Ministry for National Economy. The research of FS leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under ERC Starting Grant agreement 678194 (FALCONER).

Funders	Funder number
Economic Development and Innovation Operative Programme	GINOP-2.1.7-15-2016-00713, GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00001
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
Planetary and Exoplanetary Science Programme	648.001.004
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme	678194
European Research Council
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

Keywords

Biosignatures
Circular spectropolarimetry
Homochirality
Life detection
Photosynthesis
Remote sensing

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1089/ast.2019.2050

Circular Spectropolarimetric Sensing of Vegetation in the FieldAccepted author manuscript, 628 KBLicence: Article 25fa Dutch Copyright Act

Persistent URL (handle)

Copy link address

Cite this

@article{effdc4150bbc42499b9a095565ae74de,

title = "Circular Spectropolarimetric Sensing of Vegetation in the Field: Possibilities for the Remote Detection of Extraterrestrial Life",

abstract = "Homochirality is a generic and unique property of all biochemical life, and the fractional circular polarization of light it induces therefore constitutes a potentially unambiguous biosignature. However, while high-quality circular polarimetric spectra can be easily and quickly obtained in the laboratory, accurate measurements in the field are much more challenging due to large changes in illumination and target movement. In this study, we measured various targets in the field, up to distances of a few kilometers, using the dedicated circular spectropolarimeter TreePol. We show how photosynthetic life can readily be distinguished from abiotic matter. We underline the potential of circular polarization signals as a remotely accessible means to characterize and monitor terrestrial vegetation, for example, for agriculture and forestry. In addition, we discuss the potential of circular polarization for the remote detection of extraterrestrial life.",

keywords = "Biosignatures, Circular spectropolarimetry, Homochirality, Life detection, Photosynthesis, Remote sensing",

author = "Patty, {C. H.Lucas} and {Ten Kate}, {Inge Loes} and Buma, {Wybren Jan} and {Van Spanning}, {Rob J.M.} and G{\'a}bor Steinbach and Freek Ariese and Frans Snik",

year = "2019",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1089/ast.2019.2050",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

pages = "1221--1229",

journal = "Astrobiology",

issn = "1531-1074",

publisher = "Mary Ann Liebert Inc.",

number = "10",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Circular Spectropolarimetric Sensing of Vegetation in the Field

T2 - Possibilities for the Remote Detection of Extraterrestrial Life

AU - Patty, C. H.Lucas

AU - Ten Kate, Inge Loes

AU - Buma, Wybren Jan

AU - Van Spanning, Rob J.M.

AU - Steinbach, Gábor

AU - Ariese, Freek

AU - Snik, Frans

PY - 2019/10

Y1 - 2019/10

N2 - Homochirality is a generic and unique property of all biochemical life, and the fractional circular polarization of light it induces therefore constitutes a potentially unambiguous biosignature. However, while high-quality circular polarimetric spectra can be easily and quickly obtained in the laboratory, accurate measurements in the field are much more challenging due to large changes in illumination and target movement. In this study, we measured various targets in the field, up to distances of a few kilometers, using the dedicated circular spectropolarimeter TreePol. We show how photosynthetic life can readily be distinguished from abiotic matter. We underline the potential of circular polarization signals as a remotely accessible means to characterize and monitor terrestrial vegetation, for example, for agriculture and forestry. In addition, we discuss the potential of circular polarization for the remote detection of extraterrestrial life.

AB - Homochirality is a generic and unique property of all biochemical life, and the fractional circular polarization of light it induces therefore constitutes a potentially unambiguous biosignature. However, while high-quality circular polarimetric spectra can be easily and quickly obtained in the laboratory, accurate measurements in the field are much more challenging due to large changes in illumination and target movement. In this study, we measured various targets in the field, up to distances of a few kilometers, using the dedicated circular spectropolarimeter TreePol. We show how photosynthetic life can readily be distinguished from abiotic matter. We underline the potential of circular polarization signals as a remotely accessible means to characterize and monitor terrestrial vegetation, for example, for agriculture and forestry. In addition, we discuss the potential of circular polarization for the remote detection of extraterrestrial life.

KW - Biosignatures

KW - Circular spectropolarimetry

KW - Homochirality

KW - Life detection

KW - Photosynthesis

KW - Remote sensing

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072945676&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85072945676&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1089/ast.2019.2050

DO - 10.1089/ast.2019.2050

M3 - Article

C2 - 31361507

SN - 1531-1074

VL - 19

SP - 1221

EP - 1229

JO - Astrobiology

JF - Astrobiology

IS - 10

ER -

Circular Spectropolarimetric Sensing of Vegetation in the Field: Possibilities for the Remote Detection of Extraterrestrial Life

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Persistent URL (handle)

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this