Superposition of polarized waves at layered media: theoretical modeling and measurement

Rolf Finkele; Gerd Wanielik

doi:10.1117/12.283846

23 December 1997 Superposition of polarized waves at layered media: theoretical modeling and measurement

Rolf Finkele, Gerd Wanielik

Proceedings Volume 3120, Wideband Interferometric Sensing and Imaging Polarimetry; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.283846
Event: Optical Science, Engineering and Instrumentation '97, 1997, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The detection of ice layers on road surfaces is a crucial requirement for a system that is designed to warn vehicle drivers of hazardous road conditions. In the millimeter wave regime at 76 GHz the dielectric constant of ice and conventional road surface materials (i.e. asphalt, concrete) is found to be nearly similar. Thus, if the layer of ice is very thin and thus is of the same shape of roughness as the underlying road surface it cannot be securely detected using conventional algorithmic approaches. The method introduced in this paper extents and applies the theoretical work of Pancharatnam on the superposition of polarized waves. The projection of the Stokes vectors onto the Poincare sphere traces a circle due to the variation of the thickness of the ice layer. The paper presents a method that utilizes the concept of wave superposition to detect this trace even if it is corrupted by stochastic variation due to rough surface scattering. Measurement results taken under real traffic conditions prove the validity of the proposed algorithms. Classification results are presented and the results discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Rolf Finkele and Gerd Wanielik "Superposition of polarized waves at layered media: theoretical modeling and measurement", Proc. SPIE 3120, Wideband Interferometric Sensing and Imaging Polarimetry, (23 December 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.283846

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