Abstract

The thermal radiation polarization characteristics have been analyzed based on the physical mechanism of the infrared radiation and polarization of light, aiming at solving the problems existing in the target detection field. The polarization analysis of point source was taken as the basis and emphasis of all the research. Another key point of the study lay on the influence factors of the object’s infrared thermal emitted polarization characteristics including emission angle, complex refractive index and so on. Results show that when taken as a point source, various materials differ in polarization characteristics even at the same emission angle. Whereas, whatever the material it is, the polarization characteristics of the infinite surface could not be displayed.

© 2014 Optical Society of America