Development of a Two Color Polarimetric Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) Camera System

MWIR and LWIR polarization imaging holds promise for providing significant improvements in contrast in a number of target detection and discrimination applications. In several recent development efforts, it has been demonstrated that manmade objects have a significantly stronger polarization signal than natural backgrounds resulting in good contrast that complements the conventionally imaged infrared signature. Significant data has been collected in the MWIR and LWIR portions of the spectra and each waveband has merits and drawbacks over the other waveband. Furthermore other enhancements are expected when the wavebands are collected simultaneously. Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc proposes in a phase I effort to design a MWIR/LWIR dual waveband imaging polarimeter. The system will collect spatially and temporally coherent images of polarization in both bands. In a single frame period, the system will collect four images: two polarized MWIR images and two polarized LWIR images. The frames will be used to compute either s1 or s2 in both wavebands. A continuously rotating achromatic half wave retarder will be used to switch between s1 and s2. The system will be design utilizes COTS optical components, polarization optics and FPAs.