Two-color infrared full-Stokes imaging polarimeter development
Howe, J.D.
Aerospace Conference, 1999. Proceedings. 1999 IEEE
Volume 4, Issue , 1999 Page(s):79 - 85 vol.4
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/AERO.1999.792081
Summary:Infrared polarization imaging shows great potential to improve
system performance in a variety of tactical applications. Previous IR
polarization imaging has highlighted the possible utility of
polarization as a way to easily separate manmade objects from natural
backgrounds. If the polarization signatures are indeed robust across a
wide variety of tactical imaging conditions, polarization stands to
significantly improve our ability to automatically detect and cue
targets. Man-in-the-loop applications stand to benefit as well: in
search scenarios both the time to detect and false alarm rate could be
substantially reduced. The possible benefits of polarization imaging
require a more complete study of target and background phenomenology
before polarization imaging can seriously be considered as a candidate
tactical sensor. In order to accurately quantify the target and
background signatures and to address questions such as optimal waveband
and choice of Stokes vector components sensed, the U.S. Army Night
Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) is developing a
breadboard infrared (IR) polarization imaging capability. This paper
covers the sensor design, choice of polarization elements, problems with
their fabrication, alignment, calibration and use. Different
polarization sensing approaches are compared and their tactical utility
is addressed. Sample imagery is then presented
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