Evaluating Solar Photon Flux for Satellite in Low Earth Orbit

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The discussion centers on calculating the solar photon flux for a satellite in low Earth orbit, starting with the solar constant of 1000 W/m² and considering the satellite's distance from the Sun. Participants debate the correct approach, emphasizing the need to convert energy flux to photon flux using Planck's radiation law, which relates energy to the number of photons. Numerical integration over the wavelength range of 100 nm to 1000 nm is suggested to obtain an accurate photon flux, while also considering the geometric dilution factor due to distance. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding units and the need to integrate over solid angles for precise calculations. Ultimately, the goal is to derive a photon flux value that aligns with expected ranges of 10^20 to 10^22 photons/m²/s.
  • #31
stunner5000pt said:
we could replace h with c/lambda or c/frequency... couldn't we?

Could you justify this for me?


so then the resulting integral is counting hte number of photons... and we don't even need the other integrals?

You won't need the other integrals.
 
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  • #32
couldnt we just write joules as kg m^2 s-2??
what i wrote earlier wasnt correct i was thinkin about the relation betwen the sped of light lambda and frequency
anyway even if we did like taht then we have a kg factor and kg isn't relevant to a photon
 

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