TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMs-480 Afloat AT/FP PM, Shipboard Protection Systems increment 3

OBJECTIVE: To prove the application of the key technologies, predict field performance and conduct field tests of a prototype holographic laser radar. This sensor architecture has the potential application as a sensor for surveillance at short ranges and automated target discrimination.

DESCRIPTION: A holographic volume grating device is feasible for use in low cost, lightweight polarimetric active imaging sensor (LADAR) applications. It can be used in the receiver of a polarimetric laser radar system. The holographic beam splitter (HBS) optics can be applied to detect the polarization states of targets, greatly increasing the performance of automated target identification algorithms and reducing false alarms.

Laser radar imaging is practical for short-range surveillance (such as in-port threat defense). This laser radar would be capable of automated detecting, tracking, and discriminating air and surface targets/threats. It would be small, lightweight and low cost compared to LADAR's currently under development. From an optical system standpoint, this architecture would not require optical coherence which greatly relieves the manufacturing and alignment tolerances of the system.

PHASE I: Develop a physics based engineering model of the holographic laser radar system. This system model should include the major components, such as the optics of the HBS Stokesmeter receiver, laser transmitter, operating wavelength, focal plane array and signal/image processing. The resulting analysis should predict the field performance of the system.

PHASE II: Build the LADAR receiver (Stokesmeter) and transmitter system. Do component performance tests in laboratory. Integrate the components and test in lab. Setup the prototype polarimetric LADAR system for demonstration and field test. Laboratory and field demonstration of the shape detection/discrimination capability of the prototype LADAR system is the goal.

PHASE III: Develop and build the a prototype laser radar system for surveillance sensing or missile seeker application. The surveillance sensor application would be a product incremental improvement in the SPS program. It would provide the capability to detect, track and discriminate threat surface and air targets while in foreign port (when US combatant use of main weapon system radars are often prohibited by local authorities).

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: This technology would result in low cost active imaging systems for commercial vessels and / or aircraft. Active imaging systems provide increased capability to image through obscuring phenomena, such as rain, dust or fog. Safety of flight/navigation would be greatly increased by providing situational awareness to the operator/pilot from the current reliance on radio navigation aids and/or radar.

REFERENCES:
1. "Dual-mode Electro-optical Polarization Sensor For Surveillance And Discrimination", T. W. Nee, S. F. Nee and E. J. Bevan, Classified Proceedings From The 7th AAIA/BMDO Technology Conference, 3-6 August 1998, Ft. Carson, Colorado Springs, CO, Vol. II, pp 12-14 to 12-27, SAIC, Mclean, VA, October, 1998.
2. "Polarization of Holographic Grating Diffraction II. Experiment," Tsu-Wei Nee, Soe-Mie F. Nee, Mark Kleinschmit and Seliem Shahriar, JOSA-A, 21, 532-539, 2004.
3. "Ultra-fast Holographic Stokesmeter for Polarization Imaging in Real Time", M.S. Shahriar, J. T. Shen, R. Tripathi, M. Kleinschmit, T. W. Nee S. F. Nee, Optics Letters, 29, 298-300, 2004.

KEYWORDS: LADAR; Polarization; Holographic; Stokesmeter

TPOC: Keith Krapels
Phone: (703)696-5787
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
2nd TPOC: Tsu-wei Nee
Phone: (760)939-8225
Fax:
Email: [email protected]

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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