Intensity and Polarization Line Profiles in a Semi-Infinite Rayleigh-Scattering Planetary Atmosphere. I. Integrated Flux

Abstract. Absorption and polarization line profiles as well as the curves of growth in the integrated light of a planet over the whole range of phase angles have been computed assuming a semi-infinite atmosphere scat-tering according to Rayleigh’s phase-matrix which takes polarization into account. The relative change in line depth and equivalent widths quali-tatively agree with the observations of the CO2 bands in Venus reported by Young, Schorn and Young (1980). It is pointed out that the bands might be formed in a part of the atmosphere which is different from that where continuum polarization originates