Longwave 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 improving target recognition and discrimination. The proposed innovativesnapshot imaging sensor provides spatial, spectral, and polarization information on each pixel in the longwave infrared wavelength band at each frame time. This unique approach elimanates scanning through the spectrum as required by conventionalapproaches and provides for rapid construction of spatial, spectral, and polarization data sets including all four Stokes vectors for each pixel at each wavelength. The proposed instrument design is field portable and has no moving parts. The proposedproject builds on developments at the University of Arizona's Optical Detection Laboratory and provides the most comprehensive and versatile sensor developed to date. Commercial applications of this technology are numerous because of the capability of thesensor to provide spatial, spectral, and polarization information simultaneously. The instrument can operate in any environment and is field portable and rugged. Applications include security, mineral and material identification, fire detection, medicalapplications, landmine detection, and military target detection and identification."