Midwave Infrared Imaging Spectro-Polarimeter

"This proposal is for the development of a fast imaging spectro-polarimeter for the measurement of spatial, spectral, and polarization signatures of both targets and backgrounds for improved target recognition and discrimination. The proposed innovativesnapshot imaging sensor provides spatial, spectral and polarization information on each pixel in the midwave infrared wavelength band at each frame time. This unique approach elimanates scanning through the spectrum as required by conventional approachesand provides for rapid construction of spatial, spectral, and polarization data sets including all four Stokes vectors. The proposed instrument design is field portable with no moving parts. The proposed project builds on developments at the Universityof Arizona's Optical Detection Laboratory and provides the most comprehensive and versatile sensor developed to date. Commercial applications of this sensor are numerous because of the potential of providing spatial, spectral, and polarization informationsimultaneously in a low cost field portable instrument. Applications include security, mineral and material identification, fire detection, medical applications, and landmine and military target detection and identification."