US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

David J Owens

Arthur H Carrieri

Erik S Roese

Jerold R Bottiger

Pascal I Lim

Kevin C Hung

Jonathan C Schultz

Michael V Talbard

Irving F Barditch

Jack Copper

A system, apparatus, and method of generating Stokes vectors, a Mueller matrix, and polarized scattering from an aerosol aggregate includes providing an incident infrared laser beam; causing the incident infrared laser beam to be polarization-modulated using variable stress/strain birefringence imposed on a ZnSe crystal; defining a Stokes vector associated with the incident infrared laser beam; scattering the incident infrared laser beam from an aggregate aerosol comprising interferents and analyte particles; producing a scattered-beam reactant Stokes vector by causing the scattered incident infrared laser beam to be polarization-modulated; generating a Mueller matrix by taking a transformation of the Stokes vector; and identifying the analyte using the Mueller matrix. The Mueller matrix may comprise M-elements that are functions of a wavelength of the infrared laser beam, backsattering orientation of the infrared laser beam, and a shape and size of the interferents and analyte particles.

Spectrophotopolarimeter sensor and artificial neural network analytics for distant chemical and biological threat detection

An optomechanical switching device, a control system, and a graphical user interface for a photopolarimetric lidar standoff detection that employs differential-absorption Mueller matrix spectroscopy. An output train of alternate continuous-wave COlaser beams [ . . . L:L. . . ] is directed onto a suspect chemical-biological (CB) aerosol plume or the land mass it contaminates (S) vis-&#xe0;-vis the OSD, with L[L] tuned on [detuned off] a resonant molecular absorption moiety of CB analyte. Both incident beams and their backscattered radiances from S are polarization-modulated synchronously so as to produce gated temporal voltage waveforms (scattergrams) recorded on a focus at the receiver end of a sensor (lidar) system. All 16 elements of the Mueller matrix (M) of S are measured via digital or analog filtration of constituent frequency components in these running scattergram data streams (phase-sensitive detection). A collective set of normalized elements {} (ratio to M) susceptible to analyte, probed on-then-off its molecular absorption band, form a unique detection domain that is scrutinized; i.e., any mapping onto this domain by incoming lidar data&#x2014;by means of a trained neural network pattern recognition system for instance&#x2014;cues a standoff detection event.

Photopolarimetric lidar dual-beam switching device and mueller matrix standoff detection system and method

An analog Mueller matrix data acquisition system (AMMS) acquiring middle-infrared Mueller (M) matrices of backscattering surfaces. The M-elements are measured by means of an active photopolarimetric sensor. The AMMS records nine M-elements simultaneously in groups of four modulo 2 incident continuous-wave COlaser beams&#x2014;one incident beam is tuned to a fundamental molecular absorption cross-section by the aerosol of detection interest (analytic wavelength &#x3bb;) while the other beam is detuned off that resonance band (reference wavelength &#x3bb;) and in the closest vicinity to &#x3bb;. Accordingly, those &#x394;M elements exhibiting susceptible behavior to the aerosol analyte, driven on-then-off its molecular vibrational resonance band, cues an identification event thus providing detection decision information. The AMMS is comprised of PEM reference frequency synthesizer, optical power regulation, data digitizer, and computer interface components in an interfaced and integrated framework that governs all operations of M-elements production by the photopolarimetric sensor.

Infrared Mueller matrix acquisition and preprocessing system and method

Chemical agent warfare materials and their simulant liquids are identified on terrestrial surfaces at a distance by recognizing the contaminant's infrared fingerprint spectrum brought out in thermal luminescence (TL). Suspect surfaces are irradiated with microwave light that is absorbed into the surface and, subsequently, TL is released by the surface. An optics receiver collects the released TL radiant light, and a data acquisition system searches this TL radiant flux for the contaminant's fingerprint infrared spectrum. A decision on the presence or absence of any-of-N contaminants is done by a neural network system that acts as a filter through real-time pattern recognition of the contaminant's unique infrared absorption or emission spectra.

Tactical thermal luminescence sensor for ground path contamination detection

An apparatus for remotely sensing and identifying chemical and biological terials comprising an interrogation component having a first and second infrared radiation source providing a predetermined exciting energy and a predetermined referencing energy, a collection component for collecting backscattering radiation, an optical analysis component for converting the collected backscattered radiation into Mueller matrix elements, a filter component for pattern recognition from the Mueller matrix for specific predetermined materials and a comparison component for determining the presence of specific predetermined materials. A method for identifying chemical and biological materials is disclosed.

Infrared Mueller matrix detection and ranging system

A power source converter apparatus that is the structural and functional ivalent of a typical internally stored battery, such as a lithium organic cell. The converter has a shape and size that conforms to that of the battery being replaced. The converter includes a pair of output terminals that can make electrical contact with appropriate elements in the unit in the same manner as did the battery it replaces and a pair of input terminals accessible to the exterior of the unit for connection to an external power source. Internally of the converter body, there is mounted an electronic circuit to be used as a power conditioner and a voltage regulator for performing the proper DC-to-DC voltage conversion to ensure the necessary voltage at the output terminals. A threaded cap is fixed to the converter for use in covering the opening in the battery housing.

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Kingsville, MD, United States of America

David J Owens