Simulation of practical single-pixel wire-grid polarizers for superpixel stokes vector imaging arrays

An optical tracking sensor that produces images containing the state of polarization of each pixel can be implemented using individual wire-grid micropolarizers on each detector element of a solid-state focal plane array. These sensors can significantly improve identification and tracking of various...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optical Engineering 2012-01, Vol.51 (1), p.016201-016201
Main Authors: Raisanen, Alan D, Presnar, Michael D, Ninkov, Zoran, Fourspring, Kenneth, Meng, Lingfei, Kerekes, John P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
hybrid imaging arrays
hyperspectral imaging
polarimetry
polarizers
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Summary:An optical tracking sensor that produces images containing the state of polarization of each pixel can be implemented using individual wire-grid micropolarizers on each detector element of a solid-state focal plane array. These sensors can significantly improve identification and tracking of various man-made targets in cluttered, dynamic scenes such as urban and suburban environments. We present electromagnetic simulation results for wire-grid polarizers that can be fabricated on standard imaging arrays at three different technology nodes (an 80-, 250-, and 500-nm pitch) for use in polarization-sensitive detector arrays. The degradation in polarizer performance with the larger pitch grids is quantified. We also present results suggesting the performance degradation is not significant enough to affect performance in a man-made vehicle-tracking application.
ISSN:0091-3286
1560-2303
DOI:10.1117/1.OE.51.1.016201