Phys.org September 26, 2018
Man-made objects emit thermal radiation that is partially polarized while natural objects tend to emit thermal radiation that exhibits very little polarization. Researchers at the Army Research Laboratory and their industry partner are developing a special type of thermal camera that can record imagery that is based solely on the polarization state of the light rather than the intensity. This additional polarimetric information will allow soldiers to see hidden objects that were previously not visible when using conventional thermal cameras. The camera can detect and identify specific human subjects during complete darkness…read more.
Researchers demonstrate an example of human identification using conventional and polarimetric thermal cameras. The thermal polarimetric image allows for fine facial details to emerge, researchers said. Credit: US Army