Abstract
A new cavity pyrheliometer, the active cavity radiometer type IV (ACR IV), has been developed for the measurement of total solar optical irradiance. Analysis predicts its ability to measure at the solar constant level with 0.1% uncertainty in SI units. In comparison tests ACR IVs have consistently demonstrated 0.5% higher results than the World Radiometrie Reference scale. A prototype has been tested, and a flight instrument has been developed and flown in a sounding rocket experiment to determine the solar constant. ACR IV instrumentation is being developed for flight experiments on the Spacelab 1 and Solar Maximum Missions to monitor the total solar output of optical radiation as part of a long-term program to detect variations of climatological significance.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The full paper appeared in Appl. Opt. 18 (1979), 179.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Willson, R.C. Active cavity radiometer type IV. Sol Phys 65, 109 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00151387
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00151387