Study of atmospheric effects on infrared polarization imaging system based on polarized Monte Carlo method

Zhenyue Chen; Xia Wang; Mingyang Zhang; Runqiu Xia; Weiqi Jin

doi:10.1117/12.929224

15 October 2012 Study of atmospheric effects on infrared polarization imaging system based on polarized Monte Carlo method

Zhenyue Chen, Xia Wang, Mingyang Zhang, Runqiu Xia, Weiqi Jin

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8512, Infrared Sensors, Devices, and Applications II; 85120H (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.929224
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Compared with traditional infrared imaging, infrared polarization imaging system can detect and identify the man-made or camouflaged target more efficiently by using the difference in the degree of polarization (DoP) between the target and background. The scene’s radiation is attenuated by the path atmosphere firstly, and then modulated by the polarizer and the optical system. Because of the effect of the atmosphere (such as absorption, radiation, diffusion etc.), the final radiation intensity the sensor received changes, which affects the result of detection and identification. In this paper, the component characteristic of particles in atmosphere was discussed particularly. And the propagation of signal was described by analyzing the scattering effect between atmospheric particles and photons. After the process of free path sampling, selecting the radius of the colliding particles, the scattering angle and azimuth sampling, and particle collision and extinction judgment, a Monte Carlo model of polarized light propagation in atmosphere was present by use of the Stokes/Mueller formalism and Meridian planes method. Then two different methods (the radiation intensity and the DoP) used for target recognition in atmosphere were simulated. The relationship between the received radiation intensity, the DoP and the distance was developed. The contrast showed that the DoP had a better performance than the intensity measurements on the whole. However, there was a maximum distance for polarization imaging system using short wavelength to make the most of the advantage. When beyond this distance, the polarization imaging advantage will disappear. Polarized light with longer wavelengths had a better ability to maintain the state of polarization after propagation in the atmosphere.

Citation Download Citation

Zhenyue Chen, Xia Wang, Mingyang Zhang, Runqiu Xia, and Weiqi Jin "Study of atmospheric effects on infrared polarization imaging system based on polarized Monte Carlo method", Proc. SPIE 8512, Infrared Sensors, Devices, and Applications II, 85120H (15 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.929224

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