Polarimetric lidar signatures for remote detection of biological warfare agents

Polarimetric Lidar has been recently proposed as a method for remote detection of aerosolized biological warfare agents. Accurate characterization of the optical signatures for both biological agents and environmental interferents is a critical first step toward successful sensor deployment. MIT Lincoln Laboratory has developed the Standoff Aerosol Active Signature Testbed (SAAST) as a tool for characterizing aerosol elastic scattering cross sections.1 The spectral coverage of the SAAST includes both the nearinfrared (1-1.6 μm) and mid-infrared (3-4 μm) spectral regions. The SAAST source optics are capable of generating all six classic optical polarization states, while the polarization-sensitive receiver is able to reconstruct the full Stokes vector of the scattered wave. All scattering angles, including those near direct backscatter, can be investigated. The SAAST also includes an aerosol generation system capable of producing biological and inert samples with various size distributions. This paper discusses the underlying scattering phenomenology, SAAST design details, and presents some representative data.

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