The calibration of a complete Stokes birefringent prismatic imaging polarimeter (BPIP) in the MWIR is demonstrated. The BPIP technique, originally developed by K. Oka, is implemented with a set of four Yttrium Vanadate (YVO(4)) crystal prisms. A mathematical model for the polarimeter is presented in which diattenuation due to Fresnel effects and dichroism in the crystal are included. An improved polarimetric calibration technique is introduced to remove the diattenuation effects, along with the relative radiometric calibration required for the BPIP operating with a thermal background and large detector offsets. Data demonstrating emission polarization are presented from various blackbodies, which are compared to data from our Fourier transform infrared spectropolarimeter.

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A 2-Cam micro-bolometer imaging polarimeter operating in the LWIR is presented. The system is capable of snapshot imaging Stokes polarimetry in any one channel (S 1 , S 2 , or S 3 ) by taking two simultaneous measurements of a scene. For measurements of S 1 or S 2 , the instrument relies on a specially optimized wire-grid beam-splitter. For measurements of S 3 , a form birefringent quarter-wave retarder is inserted into the optical path. Specifics associated with the design of the wire-grid beam-splitter and the form birefringent quarter-wave retarder will be overviewed, with inclusion of RCWA simulations. Calibration and simulation procedures, as well as calibration targets, will be highlighted, and initial data from the instrument are presented.

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