Design of a circular polarization imager for contrast enhancement in rainy conditions

We present the design of a circular polarization imager for imaging in rainy conditions, which is free from image calibration and correction before obtaining the orthogonal-state contrast image. The system employed a quarter wave plate in front of two Wollaston Prisms (WPs) to capture circularly polarized information and to acquire two orthogonally polarized images simultaneously on the charge coupled device (CCD). Along with the WPs, a reimaging part with multiaperture structure composed of two separate specialized reimaging modules, were implemented to make sure the two orthogonally polarized intensity images are exactly indicating the same scene. Exploiting circularly polarized information provides advantages over a linear polarization imaging system when considering the turbulence of media and illumination. Substantial data have demonstrated the effects of the novel designed polarization imaging system. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America