Modeling and performances of a polarization active imager at λ=806 nm

We present the modeling and the performance of a polarization active imager at l5806 nm. The device operates in a monostatic configuration, using a semiconductor laser to illuminate the target and a telescope to create the image on a CCD matrix. Dual images (intensity and polarization degree) of different scenes are obtained by a new method (only two images acquired) and analyzed, showing the experimental validation of this concept. An application of this active imager to the detection of a target buried in the background (same reflectivity but different polarization degree) is proposed. Field experiment results are reported.