Polarimetry as tool to improve phase measurement in an amplitude modulated laser for submarine archaeological sites inspection

L. Bartolini; L. De Dominicis; M. Ferri de Collibus; G. Fornetti; M. Francucci; M. Guarneri; E. Paglia; C. Poggi; R. Ricci

doi:10.1117/12.725320

16 July 2007 Polarimetry as tool to improve phase measurement in an amplitude modulated laser for submarine archaeological sites inspection

L. Bartolini, L. De Dominicis, M. Ferri de Collibus, G. Fornetti, M. Francucci, M. Guarneri, E. Paglia, C. Poggi, R. Ricci

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6618, O3A: Optics for Arts, Architecture, and Archaeology; 66180I (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.725320
Event: Optical Metrology, 2007, Munich, Germany

Abstract

The propagation of polarized laser beams in turbid water is a subject of relevant interest in the field of underwater quantitative visualization with active sensors like amplitude modulated laser systems. In such devices, target range determination is based on the measurement of the phase difference ΔΦ between the fraction of the amplitude modulated laser beam reflected by the target and a reference signal. As water turbidity increases, the laser radiation backscattered from the water column shined by the sounding laser beam gives rise to an optical background with detrimental effects on the accuracy of range measurement. In this paper we analyze the possibility to increase the apparatus accuracy with a polarimetric technique based on the adoption of polarized laser radiation and polarization selective detection scheme for improving the underwater imaging of real scenes (e.g. archaeological sites). The method fully takes advantages of the different polarization properties of the laser radiation backscattered by turbid water and of the Lambertian component diffusively reflected by the target as described by the associated Mueller matrices. Measurements have been performed by adopting both a co-polarized and cross-polarized detection scheme with linearly and circularly polarized laser radiation. Various degrees of turbidity were realized by adding, as diffusive element, skim milk to water in order to obtain different scattering conditions. The effect of the transition from Rayleigh to Mie scattering regime on phase accuracy determination has been investigated together with the role played by high order scatterings as the medium approaches the optical thickness condition.

Citation Download Citation

L. Bartolini, L. De Dominicis, M. Ferri de Collibus, G. Fornetti, M. Francucci, M. Guarneri, E. Paglia, C. Poggi, and R. Ricci "Polarimetry as tool to improve phase measurement in an amplitude modulated laser for submarine archaeological sites inspection", Proc. SPIE 6618, O3A: Optics for Arts, Architecture, and Archaeology, 66180I (16 July 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.725320

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available