Abstract: Methods and apparatus for remote, passive detection of underwater objects using combined spectral and polarimetric imaging. In one example, a tunable multi-band spectro-polarimeter includes an imaging detector array that receives electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene, a plurality of tunable spectral filters configured to filter the electromagnetic radiation into at least first and second spectral bands, and a plurality of polarization filters configured to filter each of the first and second spectral bands into at least two different polarization states, a first region of the detector array receiving the first spectral band and producing first polarimetric image data, and a second region of the detector array simultaneously receiving the second spectral band and producing second polarimetric image data, and a controller that receives and processes the first and second polarimetric image data to detect a target object in the viewed scene.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for remote, passive detection of underwater objects using combined spectral and polarimetric imaging. In one example, a tunable multi-band spectro-polarimeter includes an imaging detector array that receives electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene, a plurality of tunable spectral filters configured to filter the electromagnetic radiation into at least first and second spectral bands, and a plurality of polarization filters configured to filter each of the first and second spectral bands into at least two different polarization states, a first region of the detector array receiving the first spectral band and producing first polarimetric image data, and a second region of the detector array simultaneously receiving the second spectral band and producing second polarimetric image data, and a controller that receives and processes the first and second polarimetric image data to detect a target object in the viewed scene.