Polarimetric matched filter for coherent imaging

In this paper we focus on image-contrast optimization between two rough-surface classes. Our approach is based strictly on polarimetric filtering, and therefore, no digital image-processing techniques are employed. The approach is tested on a complete polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (POL-SAR) image of the San Francisco Bay area. The data have been taken with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Jet Propulsion Laboratory CV-990L-band POL-SAR system, where eight real numbers (complex elements of a 2 × 2 polarization scattering matrix) are associated with each image pixel. Optimal transmitted polarizations (corresponding to maxima or minima of reflected energy) are found for each image pixel, and the results are analyzed statistically via a set of joint two-dimensional histograms. This is done for both of the rough-surface classes. The image response to the "optimal" incident polarization is then simulated digitally by adjusting the receiver polarization according to the modes of the his...