The Michelson Interferometer for Airglow Dynamics Imaging: Implementation, Characterization and Testing

The Michelson Interferometer for Airglow Dynamics Imaging (MIADI) is an airglow imager that utilizes a field widened interferometer as its core element in order to image Doppler winds and irradiances using Doppler broadened mesospheric airglow emissions. MIADI is unique since the measurement approach and instrument concept allow for the derivation of intrinsic information regarding atmospheric gravity waves through imaging with a single instrument, a capability that has never been achieved before. The MIADI instrument implements a low voltage capacitive feedback system developed by COM DEV Ltd for interferometer mirror stepping. This is the first implementation of this system for the control of the scanning mirror of a Michelson interferometer.;This thesis presents the physical concepts that allow the instrument to operate. A measurement approach is developed which outlines the expected science retrievable from data accumulated with MIADI. An implementation of the MIADI instrument is presented which allows these science goals to be met. Procedures for the characterization of the instrument are developed and applied to MIADI. Results from the testing of this system as a field instrument are presented. This includes testing the stepping system as well as the quality of the observations taken from the field site. These observations are used to evaluate the instrument concept and the measurement approach and identify ways in which the performance can be improved.