Laser imaging procedure for evaluating the polarization signature of immersed targets

Laser imaging systems can supply acoustical underwater imaging with new pieces of information concerning depolarizing properties of immersed targets. We use the vectorial nature of the optical wave to classify different natural polarization transformers with Stokes-Mueller formalism. The light source we use is an ionized argon laser emitting at lambda =514 nm and the imaging detector is a CCD camera. By analysing the sixteen images acquired in the backscattered direction for every target, we can interpret global depolarizing effects and synthesize new images from characteristic physical parameters. We also improve our experimental method by realizing a calibration routine.