Changes in the state of polarization of scattered laser radiation can be utilized to discriminate among targets according to surface microstructures on the wavelength scale. Newly-developed rigorous electromagnetic coherence theory is applied to the inverse problem of laser discrimination of unresolved space and airborne targets based on the effects of surface correlations on the backscattered state of polarization. Algorithms are developed to deal with speckle noise and the narrow spatial bandwidth characteristic of active ground-to-space and ground-to-air scenarios. Laboratory measurements are utilized to verify the theory and test the algorithms.
Benefits: Military applications encompassed by the scenario of interest include satellite identification and discrimination. Theoretical treatments of electromagnetic wave scattering from spatially-correlated structures have potential application in several areas of biomedical optics including glaucoma screening.
Keywords: Laser Radar, Laser Discrimination, Electromagnetic Coherence Theory, State of Polarization, Backscattering, Speckle
