Shipboard Infrared Circular Polarization Sensor for Sea-Skimming Missile Detection

摘要

A circular polarization sensor is feasible to detect a sea-skimming cruise missile in a solar corridor. We report the simulated performance results of a shipboard medium-wave infrared (MWIR) circular polarization sensor to detect a sea-skimming missile above rough sea surface. The sensor observed total and circular target and sea clutter signals at night and during daytime in and out of the solar corridor. The simulation model includes (1) Cox Munk rough sea slope distribution (2) missile target with cylindrical body conic nose and cylindrical plume surfaces (3) published in-band optical constants of water and painted target and (4) the radiation sources (i) thermal emission from target/ sea surface (ii) reflection of atmospheric and sun glints radiation and (iii) scattered light from rough sea surface. The in-band target vs. sea-clutter irradiance are plotted for horizontal range between 5 and 30 km. This plot provides a quantitative basis to determine the required sensor sensitivity noise equivalent irradiance (NEI) of a MWIR circular polarization sensor. Our model fall-polarization sensor parameters are feasible for detecting sea-skimming missiles in and out of the solar corridor and at night.