In today's world, the range of technologies with the potential to threaten the security of U.S. military forces is extremely broad. These include developments in explosive materials, sensors, control systems, robotics, satellite systems, and computing power, to name just a few. Such technologies have not only enhanced the capabilities of U.S. military forces, but also offer enhanced offensive capabilities to potential adversaries - either directly through the development of more sophisticated weapons, or more indirectly through opportunities for interrupting the function of defensive U.S. military systems. Passive and active electro-optical (EO) sensing technologies are prime examples. Laser Radar considers the potential of active EO technologies to create surprise; i.e., systems that use a source of visible or infrared light to interrogate a target in combination with sensitive detectors and processors to analyze the returned light. The addition of an interrogating light source to the system adds rich new phenomenologies that enable new capabilities to be explored. This report evaluates the fundamental, physical limits to active EO sensor technologies with potential military utility; identifies key technologies that may help overcome the impediments within a 5-10 year timeframe; considers the pros and cons of implementing each existing or emerging technology; and evaluates the potential uses of active EO sensing technologies, including 3D mapping and multi-discriminate laser radar technologies.

This newly revised and updated edition offers a current and complete introduction to the analysis and design of Electro-Optical (EO) imaging systems. The Third Edition provides numerous updates and several new chapters including those covering Pilotage, Infrared Search and Track, and Simplified Target Acquisition Model. The principles and components of the Linear Shift-Invariant (LSI) infrared and electro-optical systems are detailed in full and help you to combine this approach with calculus and domain transformations to achieve a successful imaging system analysis. Ultimately, the steps described in this book lead to results in quantitative characterizations of performance metrics such as modulation transfer functions, minimum resolvable temperature difference, minimum resolvable contrast, and probability of object discrimination. The book includes an introduction to two-dimensional functions and mathematics which can be used to describe image transfer characteristics and imaging system components. You also learn diffraction concepts of coherent and incoherent imaging systems which show you the fundamental limits of their performance. By using the evaluation procedures contained in this desktop reference, you become capable of predicting both sensor test and field performance and quantifying the effects of component variations. The book contains over 800 time-saving equations and includes numerous analyses and designs throughout. It also includes a reference link to special website prepared by the authors that augments the book in the classroom and serves as an additional resource for practicing engineers. With its comprehensive coverage and practical approach, this is a strong resource for engineers needing a bench reference for sensor and basic scenario performance calculations. Numerous analyses and designs are given throughout the text. It is also an excellent text for upper-level students with an interest in electronic imaging systems.

This book describes the analysis and modeling involved with the design, specification and evaluation of electro-optical systems and components. The emphasis is on imaging infrared sensor systems, with analytical models that include the radiation source, atmospheric transmission, geometric and physical optics, a detector, amplifier and optical noise analysis, and detection and false alarm probabilities. Much of the analysis goes beyond what is normally available in engineering texts; the noise analysis includes a practical detector/amplifier 1/f noise model based, in part on real world results. The last chapter, "Example Calculations," includes a complete model of an infrared sensor system working in the 3 to 5 micron atmospheric transmission window. The examples, which incorporate much of the work of the previous chapters, shows how to specify the frame and integration time, detection and false alarm probabilities, array size, the angular resolution and so forth. Once these parameters are specified, using practical inputs, the various noise contributors are calculated, and important system level parameters are determined. The parameters include the signal to noise ratio, the specific detectivity (which is related to the sensitivity of the system) and dynamic range. This book is, however, more general than a sensor system book. The "Geometric Optics" chapter includes thick and thin lenses along with the other standard topics. "Electromagnetic Waves & Physical Optics" starts with Maxwell's Equations and ends with reflection at an air-metal interface. The chapter on "Angular Characterization & Related Parameters" includes aberrations, stops, vignetting, f-number, numerical aperture, diffraction and various geometric blur diameters. It also includes determination of array size, field of view, integration time, time delay and integration, etc. In "Radiometry and Photometry," various radiometric and photometric functions are defined, starting at radiant and luminous energy and ending with the Etendue Theorem. Tristimulus Colorimetry and the Photopic/Scotopic Spectral functions are also discussed. In the chapter, "Radiometry Calculation Procedures," conversions between various radiometric quantities are illustrated using a grey-body source; the background, signal, scattered and emitted flux are also considered. In "Detector and Amplifier Parameters," the electrical bandwidth, reset time, all major noise mechanisms, the Responsivity, Noise Equivalent Power, Specific Detectivity, are some of the topics discussed. In System Parameters, there are compact discussions of Fourier Transforms, the Autocorrelation Function, the Nyquist Criteria, Modulation Transfer Functions, Atmospheric Transmission, signal to noise and threshold to noise (detection/false alarm probabilities). The last chapter is the example calculation of sensor performance.

The field of radiometry can be dangerous territory to the uninitiated, faced with the risk of errors and pitfalls. The concepts and tools explored in this book empower readers to comprehensively analyse, design, and optimise real-world systems. This book builds on the foundation of solid theoretical understanding, and strives to provide insight into hidden subtleties in radiometric analysis. Atmospheric effects provide opportunity for a particularly rich set of intriguing observations. The term 'radiometry' is used in its wider context to specifically cover the calculation of flux. This wider definition is commonly used by practitioners in the field to cover all forms of manipulation, including creation, measurement, calculation, modeling, and simulation of optical flux. Two concurrent themes frame the discussion: fragmenting a complex problem into simple building blocks and then designing complex systems from smaller elements. Analysis and design, as a creative synthesis of something new, cannot be easily taught other than by example; for this purpose, several case studies are presented.This book also provides a number of problems, some with solutions demonstrated in Matlab(R) and the Python' pyradi toolkit.

Presents practical electro-optical applications in the context of the fundamental principles of communication theory, thermodynamics, information theory and propagation theory. Combining systems issues with fundamentals of communications, this is an essential reference for all practising engineers and academic researchers in optical engineering.

This tutorial introduces the theory and applications of MTF, used to specify the image quality achieved by an imaging system. It covers basic linear systems theory and the relationship between impulse response, resolution, MTF, OTF, PTF, and CTF. Practical measurement and testing issues are discussed.

This comprehensive reference details the principles and components of the Linear Shift-Invariant (LSI) infrared and electro-optical systems and shows you how to combine this approach with calculus and domain transformations to achieve a successful imaging system analysis. Ultimately, the steps described in this book lead to results in quantitative characterizations of performance metrics such as modulation transfer functions, minimum resolvable temperature difference, minimum resolvable contrast, and probability of object discrimination. The book includes an introduction to two-dimensional functions and mathematics which can be used to describe image transfer characteristics and imaging system components. You also learn diffraction concepts of coherent and incoherent imaging systems which show you the fundamental limits of their performance. By using the evaluation procedures contained in this desktop reference, you become capable of predicting both sensor test and field performance and quantifying the effects of component variations.