Spinnel Pebble
Experimental phase function and degree of linear polarization curve of olivine and spinel and the origin of the Barbarian polarization behaviour.

We explore experimentally possible explanations of the polarization curves of the sunlight reflected by the Barbarian asteroids. Their peculiar polarization curves are characterized by a large-inversion angle, around 30 degrees, which could be related to the presence of FeO-bearing spinel embedded in Calcium–Aluminum inclusions. In order to test this hypothesis, we have measured the phase function and degree of linear polarization of six samples of Mg-rich olivine and spinel.

Forsterite XL
Retrieving Dust Grain Sizes from Photopolarimetry

We present the experimental phase function, degree of linear polarization (DLP), and linear depolarization (δL) curves of a set of forsterite samples representative of low-absorbing cosmic dust particles. The samples are prepared using state-of-the-art size-segregating techniques to obtain narrow size distributions spanning a broad range of the scattering size parameter domain.

Pollen
On the application of scattering matrix measurements to detection and identification of major types of airborne aerosol particles: Volcanic ash, desert dust and pollen

Atmospheric aerosols play key roles in climate and have important impacts on human activities and health. Hence, much effort is directed towards developing methods of improved detection and discrimina- tion of different types of aerosols. Among these, light scattering-based detection of aerosol offers several advantages including applications in both in situ and remote sensing devices. In this work, new scat- tering matrix measurements for two samples of airborne desert dust collected in Spain and China are reported.

Mars
ROADMAP: Role and impAct of Dust and clouds in the Martian AtmosPhere: from lab to space

ROADMAP is an H2020-SPACE-2020 new project CoDuLab is involved in. The project's goal is to drastically enhance our knowledge of the Red Plant by focusing on the prominent role of dust and clouds in its atmosphere. By combining light scattering experiments and observations, ROADMAP will study the composition of the Martian atmosphere, contribute to a better understanding of the physical processes in occurring in there and improve the modelling of dust and water cycles in it.

mm cosmic analogs
Experimental phase function and degree of linear polarization curves of millimeter-sized cosmic dust analogs

We present laboratory measurements of the phase functions and degree of linear polarization(DLP) curves of a selection of millimeter-sized cosmic dust analog particles. The set includes particles with similar sizes but diverse internal structure(compact and porous) and absorbing properties. The measured phase functions are found to be in all cases very different from those of micron-sized particles. They show a monotonic decrease with increasing phase angle from the back- to the side-scattering region, reaching a minimum at large phase angles before a steep increase of the forward peak.

Volcanic
Light scattering from volcanic-sand particles in deposited and aerosol form

The light-scattering properties of volcanic sand collected in Iceland are studied here to characterize the sand particles and develop a reference for future remote-sensing observations. While such sand is common in Iceland, the smaller-size fraction can be readily transported by winds and found in the atmosphere at distant locations. The sand appears dark when deposited on a surface due to the high optical absorption of the material. Therefore, atmospheric regions containing such particles during a dust storm may absorb sunlight considerably, causing redistribution of solar energy.

Cometary
Experimental phase function and degree of linear polarization of cometary dust analogues

We present experimental phase function and degree of linear polarization curves for seven samples of cometary dust analogues namely: ground pieces of Allende, DaG521, FRO95002, and FRO99040 meteorites, Mg-rich olivine and pyroxene, and a sample of organic tholins. The experimental curves have been obtained at the IAA Cosmic Dust Laboratory at a wavelength of 520 nm covering a phase angle range from 3◦ to 175◦. We also provide values of the backscattering enhancement for our cometary analogue samples.