Imaging polarimeter sensor with achromatic beam-splitting polarizer

摘要

An imaging polarimeter sensor (20) includes an achromatic beamsplitting polarizer (30) that receives a polychromatic image beam (22) of a scene (24) and simultaneously produces a first polarized polychromatic image beam (32) and a second polarized polychromatic image beam (34). The second polarized polychromatic image beam (34) is of a different polarization than the first polarized polychromatic image beam (32) and is angularly separated from the first polarized polychromatic image beam (32). The achromatic beamsplitting polarizer (30) preferably includes a Wollaston prism (50) through which the polychromatic image beam (22) passes, and at least one grating (54, 56) through which the polychromatic image beam (22) passes either before or after it passes through the Wollaston prism (50). An imaging detector (38) receives the first polarized polychromatic image beam (32) and the second polarized polychromatic image beam (34) and produces an output image signal (40) responsive to the first polarized polychromatic image beam (32) and the second polarized polychromatic image beam (34). <IMAGE>