Passive 3D imaging using polarimetric diversity

This paper summarizes the results of experiments in developing a method for extracting 3D information from a scene by means of a polarimetric passive imaging sensor. This sensor provides full Stokes vector at each sensor pixel location, from which, degree and angle of linear polarization are computed. Angle of linear polarization provides the azimuth angle of the surface normal vector. The depression angle of this surface normal vector is obtained in terms of the emitting object's index of refraction, from the solution of an equation derived from Fresnel equations, snell's law, and percent of linear polarization. Results of the application of this approach on simulated infrared polarimetric data are provided.