Infrared polarization measurements of targets and backgrounds in a marine environment

Frank Cremer; Piet B. W. Schwering; Wim de Jong; Klamer Schutte; Arie N. de Jong

doi:10.1117/12.440074

18 September 2001 Infrared polarization measurements of targets and backgrounds in a marine environment

Frank Cremer, Piet B. W. Schwering, Wim de Jong, Klamer Schutte, Arie N. de Jong

Proceedings Volume 4370, Targets and Backgrounds VII: Characterization and Representation; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.440074
Event: Aerospace/Defense Sensing, Simulation, and Controls, 2001, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

The infrared (IR) radiation emitted or reflected in an off- normal direction from a smooth surface is partially polarized. This principle can be used for enhanced discrimination of targets from backgrounds in a marine environment. It has been shown that (man-made) targets do not demonstrate a pronounced polarization effect when observed from near normal direction whereas the sea background radiation has a certain degree of polarization in slant observation path. A measurement setup has been constructed for collecting polarized IR imagery. This setup contains a rotating polarization filter that rotates synchronously with the frame sync of the camera. Either a long wave IR (LWIR) or a mid wave IR (MWIR) camera can be mounted behind the rotating polarization filter. The synchronization allows a sequence of images to be taken with a predefined constant angle of rotation between the images. Out of this image sequence three independent Stokes images are constructed, containing the normal intensity part, the vertical/horizontal polarization and the diagonal polarization. Up to 20 full linearly polarized images can be acquired per second. Measurements are taken at the North Sea coast with this setup. The recorded images are analyzed to determine the influence of polarization on the detection of small targets in such an environment. Furthermore differences between polarization contrasts in MWIR are analyzed.

Citation Download Citation

Frank Cremer, Piet B. W. Schwering, Wim de Jong, Klamer Schutte, and Arie N. de Jong "Infrared polarization measurements of targets and backgrounds in a marine environment", Proc. SPIE 4370, Targets and Backgrounds VII: Characterization and Representation, (18 September 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.440074

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available