Polarization in the MWIR: a method to improve target aquisition

Y. Aron; Y. Gronau

doi:10.1117/12.605316

31 May 2005 Polarization in the LWIR: a method to improve target aquisition

Y. Aron, Y. Gronau

Proceedings Volume 5783, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXI; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.605316
Event: Defense and Security, 2005, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

We have shown a method of target acquisition with a high Probability of Detection (Pd), extremely low False Alarm Rate (FAR), which can be implemented in real time hardware existing in most of ELOP's FLIRs. This target acquisition method is based on sensing the linear polarized radiation of the scene and is based on the phenomenon that facets found on most man made targets show a high degree of linear polarization while natural background elements do not. Using this phenomenon (after fixing all the engineering hurdles such as polarizer wobble, etc) can give us a powerful tool for acquiring targets in cluttered backgrounds, where "regular FLIRs", even the most sensitive ones, fail to acquire targets. This phenomenon is most successful where the limiting factor for detection is the clutter, so although lowering scenes SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio), by introducing the polarizer, we get higher SCR (Signal to Clutter Ratio) which is often the real limiting factor in real life. The phenomenon was found to be very robust over different targets and backgrounds in the LWIR and much weaker in the MWIR.

Citation Download Citation

Y. Aron and Y. Gronau "Polarization in the LWIR: a method to improve target aquisition", Proc. SPIE 5783, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXI, (31 May 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.605316

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