Active Polarimetric LADAR System

Polarization imaging holds promise for providing significant improvements in contrast for target detection and discrimination. It has been demonstrated that manmade objects have a significantly stronger polarized signal than natural backgrounds. There isalso strong promise for improved target-background contrast with active imaging polarimeters, operating similarly to LADAR systems. SAGE proposes to develop a fast (>30Hz) imaging polarimeter with an active mode capability in the infrared. The proposedpolarimetric LADAR system will serve as a prototype for a potential KV sensor and weapons system. The proposed system will be compatible with an active polarimetric sensor architecture, composed of modular components that will provide for future expansionto additional wavelengths for related military and commercial applications. The proposed system will incorporate superpixel technology at the detector. The sensor performance will be modeled, analyzed, and tested against exo-atmospheric environmentalconditions and known target configurations. Testing will be conducted using targets that simulate geometry and materials in a government approved test facility like AMORES. Modeling and analysis will be conducted using personal computers and accepted andunique code developed for this effort.