As millimeter-wave arrays become available, off-axis imaging performance of the fore optics increases in importance
due to the relatively large physical extent of the arrays. Typically, simple optical telescope designs are adapted to
millimeter-wave imaging but single-mirror spherical or classic conic designs cannot deliver adequate image quality
except near the optical axis. Since millimeter-wave designs are quasi-optical, optical ray tracing and commercial design
software can be used to optimize designs to improve off-axis imaging as well as minimize cross-polarization. Methods
that obey the Dragone-Mizuguchi condition for the design of reflective millimeter-wave telescopes with low cross-polarization
also provide additional degrees of freedom that offer larger fields of view than possible with single-reflector
designs. Dragone's graphical design method does not lend itself readily to computer-based optical design approaches,
but subsequent authors expanded on Dragone's geometric design approach with analytic expressions that describe the
location, shape, off-axis height and tilt of the telescope elements that satisfy Dragone's design rules and can be used as a
first-order design for subsequent computer-based design and optimization. We investigate two design variants that obey
the Dragone-Mizuguchi conditions that exhibit ultra-low cross-polarization and a large diffraction-limited field of view
well suited to millimeter-wave imaging arrays.
We present the theory, design, and experimental results obtained from a scanning passive W-band fully polarimetric
imager. Passive millimeter-wave imaging offers persistent day/nighttime imaging and the ability to penetrate dust,
clouds and other obscurants, including clothing and dry soil. The single-pixel scanning imager includes both far-field
and near-field fore-optics for investigation of polarization phenomena. Using both fore-optics, a variety of scenes
including natural and man-made objects was imaged and these results are presented showing the utility of polarimetric
imaging for anomaly detection. Analysis includes conventional Stokes-parameter based approaches as well as
multivariate image analysis methods.
We present experimental results obtained from a scanning passive W-band fully polarimetric imager. Passive millimeter
wave imaging offers persistent day/nighttime imaging and the ability to penetrate dust, clouds and other obscurants, as
well as thin layers of clothing and even dry soil. The selection of the W-band atmospheric window at 94 GHz offers a
compromise as there is sufficient angular resolution for imaging applications using modestly-sized reflectors appropriate
for mobile as well as fixed location applications. The imager is based upon an F/2.1 off-axis parabolic reflector that
exhibits -34 dB of cross polarization suppression. The heterodyne radiometer produces a 6 GHz IF with 4 GHz of
bandwidth resulting in an NEDT of < 200 mK. Polarimetric imaging reveals the presence of man-made objects due to
their typically anisotropic nature and the interaction of these objects with incident millimeter wave radiation. The
phenomenology studies were undertaken to determine the richest polarimetric signals to use for exploitation. In addition
to a conventional approach to polarimetric image analysis in which the Stokes I, Q, U, and V images were formed and
displayed, we present an alternative method for polarimetric image exploitation based upon multivariate image analysis
(MIA). MIA uses principal component analysis (PCA) and 2D scatter or score plots to identify various pixel classes in
the image compared with the more conventional scene-based image analysis approaches. Multivariate image
decomposition provides a window into the complementary interplay between spatial and statistical correlations
contained in the data.
The sub-millimeter (sub-mm) wave frequency band from 300 - 1000 GHz is currently being developed for standoff
concealed weapon detection imaging applications. This frequency band is of interest due to the unique combination of
high resolution and clothing penetration. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is currently developing a
350 GHz, active, wideband, three-dimensional, radar imaging system to evaluate the feasibility of active sub-mm
imaging for standoff detection. Standoff concealed weapon and explosive detection is a pressing national and
international need for both civilian and military security, as it may allow screening at safer distances than portal
screening techniques. PNNL has developed a prototype active wideband 350 GHz radar imaging system based on a
wideband, heterodyne, frequency-multiplier-based transceiver system coupled to a quasi-optical focusing system and
high-speed rotating conical scanner. This prototype system operates at ranges up to 10+ meters, and can acquire an
image in 10 - 20 seconds, which is fast enough to scan cooperative personnel for concealed weapons. The wideband
operation of this system provides accurate ranging information, and the images obtained are fully three-dimensional.
During the past year, several improvements to the system have been designed and implemented, including increased
imaging speed using improved balancing techniques, wider bandwidth, and improved image processing techniques. In
this paper, the imaging system is described in detail and numerous imaging results are presented.
Military missiles are exposed to many sources of mechanical vibration that can affect system reliability, safety, and
mission effectiveness. One of the most significant exposures to vibration occurs when the missile is being carried by an
aviation platform, which is a condition known as captive carry. If the duration of captive carry exposure could be
recorded during the missile's service life, several advantages could be realized. Missiles that have been exposed to
durations outside the design envelop could be flagged or screened for maintenance or inspection; lightly exposed
missiles could be selected for critical mission applications; and missile allocation to missions could be based on prior use
to avoid overuse. The U. S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) has
been developing health monitoring systems to assess and improve reliability of missiles during storage and field
exposures. Under the direction of AMRDEC staff, engineers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a Captive Carry Health Monitor (CCHM) for the HELLFIRE II missile. The CCHM is an embedded usage monitoring device installed on the outer skin of the HELLFIRE II missile to record the cumulative hours the host missile has been in captive carry mode and thereby assess the overall health of the missile. This paper provides an overview of the CCHM electrical and package design, describes field testing and data analysis techniques used to identify captive carry, and discusses the potential application of missile health and usage data for real-time reliability analysis and fleet management.
In this paper we present design considerations, thermal and optical modeling results, and device performance for a
ruggedized, compact laser transmitter that utilizes a room temperature quantum cascade (QC) laser source. The QC laser
transmitter is intended for portable mid-infrared spectroscopy applications, where the 3 to 5 μm and 8 to 12 μm
atmospheric transmission window is relatively free of water vapor interference and where the molecular rotational
vibration absorption features can be used to detect and uniquely identify chemical compounds of interest. Initial QC
laser-based sensor development efforts were constrained by the complications of cryogenic operation. However,
improvements in both QC laser designs and fabrication processes have provided room-temperature devices that now
enable significant miniaturization and integration potential for national security, environmental monitoring, atmospheric
science, and industrial safety applications.
A prototype active wideband 350 GHz imaging system has been developed to address the urgent need for standoff
concealed-weapon detection. This system is based on a wideband, heterodyne, frequency-multiplier-based transceiver
system coupled to a quasi-optical focusing system and high-speed conical scanner. This system is able to quickly scan
personnel for concealed weapons. Additionally, due to the wideband operation, this system provides accurate ranging
information, and the images obtained are fully three-dimensional. Waves in the microwave, millimeter-wave, and
terahertz (3 GHz to 1 THz) frequency bands are able to penetrate many optical obscurants, and can be used to form the
basis of high-resolution imaging systems. Waves in the sub-millimeter-wave band (300 GHz to 1 THz) are particularly
interesting for standoff concealed-weapon detection at ranges of 5 - 20+ meters, due to their unique combination of high
resolution and clothing penetration. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has previously developed
portal screening systems that operate at the lower end of the millimeter-wave frequency range around 30 GHz. These
systems are well suited for screening within portals; however, increasing the range of these systems would dramatically
reduce the resolution due to diffraction at their relatively long wavelength. In this paper, the standoff 350 GHz imaging
system is described in detail and numerous imaging results are presented.
The Health Monitor System (HMS) is a low-cost, low-power, battery-powered device capable of measuring temperature,
humidity, and shock. Many mission-critical items are susceptible to shock damage. To help prevent shock damage,
assets often are placed in robust custom containers with shock damping and absorption devices. Assets are still at risk of
damage while in their protective containers. Having a Health Monitor attached to an asset or container allows the status
of the asset to be determined. The Health Monitor can measure, record, store, analyze, and display to the user if a shock
event has occurred that puts the asset at risk of failure. Extensive shock testing and algorithm implementation were
required to develop a Health Monitor that uses a single-point 3-axis accelerometer to determine the type, height, and
severity of a shock event.
The infrared sensors group at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is focused on the science and technology of remote and in-situ chemical sensors for detecting proliferation and countering terrorism. To support these vital missions, PNNL is developing frequency-modulation techniques for remote probing over long optical paths by means of differential-absorption light detecting and ranging (LIDAR). This technique can easily monitor large areas, or volumes, that could only be accomplished with a large network of point sensors. Recently, PNNL began development of a rugged frequency-modulation differential-abosrption LIDAR (FM-DIAL) system to conduct field experiments. To provide environmentla protection for the system and facilitate field deployments and operations, a large, well insulated, temperature controlled trailer was specified and acquired. The trailer was outfitted with a shock-mounted optical bench, an electronics rack, a liquid nitrogen Dewar, and a power generator. A computer-controlled gimbal-mounted mirror was added to allow the telescope beam to be accurately pointed in both the vertical and horizontal plane. This turned out to be the most complicated addition, and is described in detail. This paper provides an overview of the FM-DIAL system and illustrates innovative solutions developed to overcome several alignment and stability issues encountered in the field.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.