Modeling and theoretical analysis for improving laser polarized active imaging

An experimental method to improve the laser polarized active imaging is proposed. The schematic diagram of the experimental setup is presented, and the imaging principle of the setup is analyzed. The formulas to calculate the polarization degree and intensity for the improved experimental setup were derived based on the measurement method of Mueller matrix for the target analysis. The errors of the setup and the depolarization phenomenon of the Cassegrain telescope were analyzed. In comparison with the dualrotating retarder technique (DRRT) for the polarization degree and intensity measurement, the accurate requirements for the experiment setup is released, and the measurement speed is increased. The polarization degree and intensity of the scattered light from the target can be obtained in only one measurement by the new method, rather than 16 times of measurement by DRRT.