TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Red sky, green sun, black clouds: light scattering phenomena in the atmosphere! Y1 - 2002 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Hands on experiments in physics education Y1 - 2002 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - There is more to see than eyes can detect Y1 - 2002 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Physics teacher training and research in physics education in Europe Y1 - 2002 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Optical Phenomena of Aerosols Y1 - 2003 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Effects of absorbing particles on coronas and glories Y1 - 2004 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Experiments and simulations for teaching coronas, glories and supernumerary rainbows Y1 - 2004 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Identification and suppression of Thermal Reflections in Infrared Thermal Imaging Y1 - 2004 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Coronas and glories Y1 - 2005 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Hands on experiments in physics education Y1 - 2005 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Locomotion by blowing into the sail of your own sailboat: Muenchhausen story or real physics? Y1 - 2005 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Thermography of microwave ovens Y1 - 2005 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Influence of gaseous species on thermal infrared imaging Y1 - 2006 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Demonstration of Quetelet fringes Y1 - 2007 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Illuminance during a solar eclipse Y1 - 2007 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Luminance during a total lunar eclipse Y1 - 2007 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Looking through matter: quantitative IR imaging when observing through IR windows Y1 - 2007 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Cheese cubes, light bulbs, soft drinks: An unusual approach to study convection, radiation and size dependent heating and cooling Y1 - 2008 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Shaw, Joseph A. A1 - Nugent, Paul W. A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Infrared Moon imaging for remote sensing of atmospheric smoke layers JF - Applied Optics 54 (2015) 4, B64-B75 N2 - Abstract Simultaneous visible and long-wave infrared (IR) images of the Moon were used with a simple energy-balance model to study the spatial pattern of lunar surface temperatures. The thermal images were obtained with a radiometrically calibrated, compact, low-cost, commercial IR camera mounted on a small telescope. Differences between the predicted and measured maximum Moon temperatures were used to determine the infrared optical depth (OD), which represents the path-integrated extinction of an elevated layer of wildfire smoke in the atmosphere. The OD values retrieved from the IR Moon images were combined with simultaneous OD measurements from a ground-based, zenith-pointing lidar operating at a wavelength of 532 nm to determine an IR-to-visible OD ratio of 0.50±0.18 for moderately aged wildfire smoke aerosol. © 2014 Optical Society of America Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.54.000B64 SP - B64 EP - B75 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vollmer, Michael A1 - Shaw, Joseph A. A1 - Nugent, Paul W. T1 - Visible and invisible mirages: comparing inferior mirages in the visible and thermal infrared JF - Applied Optics 54 (2015) 4, B76-B84 N2 - Abstract Visible (VIS)-light and thermal infrared (IR) inferior mirages in the 8–14 μm waveband have been observed simultaneously for the takeoff and landing of various airplanes at distances of several kilometers. Similarities as well as differences between the VIS and IR mirages are discussed. © 2014 Optical Society of America Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.54.000B76 SP - B76 EP - B84 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vollmer, Michael A1 - Möllmann, Klaus-Peter A1 - Shaw, Joseph A. T1 - The optics and physics of near infrared imaging JF - Proceedings of SPIE 9793, Education and Training in Optics and Photonics: ETOP 2015, 97930Z (October 8, 2015) N2 - abstract A large part of photonics research and development, as well as commercial applications such as optical data transmission or infrared thermal imaging, occurs in the infrared spectral range between 0.8 μm and 15 μm. However, relatively little material is so far available for experimentally teaching the physics and optics of this spectral range. We report a respective new approach in the near infrared (NIR) range between 0.8 μm and 1.7 μm that allows visualization of a number of fascinating physics phenomena. First, we use the near-infrared sensitivity of silicon-based detectors in rather inexpensive video cameras and digital single-lens reflex cameras by removing the infrared-blocking filter and replacing it with a visible-radiation blocking filter. Second, we utilize modern NIR cameras based on InGaAs detectors. With both camera types we illustrate and explain a number of physics concepts that are especially suitable for curricula in optics and photonics. Examples include the strangely bright appearance of vegetation, contrast enhancement between clouds and sky, the initially surprising differences of optical material properties between the VIS and NIR range, the possibilities of visualizing buried hidden structures and texts, and recent medical applications to locate blood vessels below the skin. © (2015) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2223094 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Shaw, Joseph A. A1 - Nugent, Paul A1 - Vollmer, Michael T1 - Colors of the Yellowstone thermal pools for teaching optics JF - Proceedings of SPIE 9793, Education and Training in Optics and Photonics: ETOP 2015, 97931S (October 8, 2015) N2 - abstract Nature provides many beautiful optical phenomena that can be used to teach optical principles. Here we describe an interdisciplinary education project based on a simple computer model of the colors observed in the famous thermal pools of Yellowstone National Park in the northwestern United States. The primary wavelength-dependent parameters that determine the widely varying pool colors are the reflectance of the rocks or the microbial mats growing on the rocks beneath the water (the microbial mat color depends on water temperature) and optical absorption and scattering in the water. This paper introduces a teaching module based on a one-dimensional computer model that starts with measured reflectance spectra of the microbial mats and modifies the spectra with depth-dependent absorption and scattering in the water. This module is designed to be incorporated into a graduate course on remote sensing systems, in a section covering the propagation of light through air and water, although it could be adapted to a general university optics course. The module presents the basic 1-D radiative transfer equation relevant to this problem, and allows them to build their own simple model. Students can then simulate the colors that would be observed for different variations of the microbial mat reflectance spectrum, skylight spectrum, and water depth. © (2015) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2223177 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vollmer, Michael A1 - Möllmann, Klaus-Peter T1 - Bouncing Poppers JF - The Physics Teacher 53 (2015) 8, 489.493 N2 - Abstract Toys are known to attract interest in physics and they are therefore often used in physics teaching of various topics. The present paper deals with a simple toy, the so-called “hopper popper,” which, similar to superballs, can be used when teaching mechanics. We suggest some experiments and describe the basic physics of this toy, also providing background information for teachers. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4933153 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vollmer, Michael A1 - Möllmann, Klaus-Peter T1 - The tablecloth pull revisited JF - Physics Education 50 (2015) 3 N2 - Abstract A very old and well-known magical trick is the so-called tablecloth pull. A table is covered with a tablecloth, on top of which are certain objects. The task is to remove the tablecloth while the objects—which must not be touched—stay on top of the table. This article describes the physics behind the experiment, and presents examples recorded with high-speed cameras. Y1 - 2015 SP - 324 EP - 328 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vollmer, Michael A1 - Möllmann, Klaus-Peter T1 - Flickering lamps JF - European Journal of Physics 36 (2015) 3 N2 - Abstract Many processes in electromagnetism vary with time. Some of them are well known, in particular those related to line frequencies of 50 Hz or 60 Hz such as fluctuating light output of discharge and incandescent lamps. The flickers of discharge and incandescent lamps have quite different physical principles involved, which are investigated experimentally using high-speed cameras and theoretically using simplified models. The topic is related to other phenomena such as the transient behaviour of phosphor layers covering the screen of oscilloscopes and the time-varying Lorentz force acting on the filament of light bulbs. All studies are well suited for teaching selected aspects of electromagnetism and light at undergraduate level at university. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/36/3/035027 SP - 035027 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vollmer, Michael A1 - Möllmann, Klaus-Peter T1 - Light-emitting pickles JF - Physics Education 50 (2015) 1 N2 - Abstract We present experiments giving new insights into the classical light-emitting pickle experiment. In particular, measurements of the spectra and temperatures, as well as high-speed recordings, reveal that light emission is connected to the polarity of the electrodes and the presence of hydrogen. Y1 - 2015 SP - 94 EP - 104 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vollmer, Michael A1 - Möllmann, Klaus-Peter T1 - Krach-bumm-peng – Böller und Tischfeuerwerke JF - Physik in unserer Zeit 46 (2015) 6, 305-306 N2 - Abstract Zu Silvester wird es wieder krachen und knallen, draußen oder drinnen. Hochgeschwindigkeits-Videos von Chinakrachern offenbaren deren dynamische Explosionsphase. Auch die weniger spektakulären Tischfeuerwerke zeigen noch so manches interessante Detail. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/piuz.201590105 SP - 305 EP - 306 ER -