POLARIZATION SIGNATURE MEASUREMENTS AND SIMULATIONS

The primary result of the Phase I effort will be an optimized polarimeter which can be used in Phase II for military, remote sensing, and astronomical observations. Also the feasibility of assembling a user friendly polarization code running on a Silicon Graphics workstation will be established. Initial work in the area of polarization has been done by the principal investigator and by the subcontractor. The objectives of this effort, if successful, represent a significant step forward in polarization technology. The instrument to be characterized and modified under the Phase I work addresses major technical problems encountered in previous instrumentation. A solution to these technical problems is required in order to establish the technical feasibility of polarization in addressing the stressing problems faced by BAllistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) (i.e. separation of a booster or bus from the associated plume, target discrimination, target orientation determination, hard body/wake separation, aim point selection for interceptors, and kill assessment).