Open AccessMeasured comparison of the crossover periods for mid- and long-wave IR (MWIR and LWIR) polarimetric and conventional thermal imagery
Author(s) -
Melvin Felton,
Kristan P. Gurton,
J. Larry Pezzaniti,
David B. Chenault,
L. E. Roth
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.015704
Subject(s) - polarimetry , optics , contrast (vision) , remote sensing , infrared , physics , materials science , environmental science , geology , scattering
We report the results of a multi-day diurnal study in which polarimetric and conventional thermal imagery is recorded in the mid- and long-wave IR to identify and compare the respective time periods in which minimum target contrast is achieved. The data shows that the chief factors affecting polarimetric contrast in both wavebands are the amount of thermal emission from the objects in the scene and the abundance of MWIR and LWIR sources in the optical background. In particular, it has been observed that the MWIR polarimetric contrast was positively correlated to the presence of MWIR sources in the optical background, while the LWIR polarimetric contrast was negatively correlated to the presence of LWIR sources in the optical background.