Project Title:

Laser Polarization Profiling

08.04-1772
901197
Laser Polarization Profiling

Abstract:

The design, fabrication and testing of a breadboard laser polarization profilometer
(LPP) will be accomplished. The design uses a special polarization preserving beamsplitter
(PPBS) that delivers the reflected laser light to the detectors. A polarized, pulsed
laser source is incorporated within the polarimeter package. The illuminated target
and the laser spot are imaged by the video camera using an achromatic lens design.
The pulsed, polarized, laser diode source is equipped with a remote control to enable
spot size adjustment on the target. The light reaching the polarimeter is divided
into three beams, two of which are orthogonally polarized and one which indicates
the overall incident intensity. The light intensities are detected by PIN silicon
photodiodes. The project objectives will include design considerations on:  laser
power requirements for high signal-to-noise measurement and polarization sensitivity
at the 300 m distance; the optical design of the achromatic system; laser spot detection
and target viewing; and compact and rugged packaging of the mechanical system. At
the end of Phase I, the complete optical and electronic interface requirements will
have been defined, and a breadboard package will have been developed and tested simulating
real conditions.
Potential applications of the LPP technology include remote mapping of soil, vegetation
and geological features, scattering and polarization response, mapping and surveying.
polarization, polarimeter, laser diode, beamsplitting, video, pulsed, achromatic