First video rate imagery from a 32-channel 22-GHz aperture synthesis passive millimetre wave imager

Neil Salmon, Rod Macpherson, Andy Harvey, Peter Hall, Steve Hayward, Peter Wilkinson, Christopher Taylor

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    Abstract

    The first video rate imagery from a proof-of-concept 32-channel 22 GHz aperture synthesis imager is reported. This imager has been brought into operation over the first half of year 2011. Receiver noise temperatures have been measured to be ∼453 K, close to original specifications, and the measured radiometric sensitivity agrees with the theoretical predictions for aperture synthesis imagers (2 K for a 40 ms integration time). The short term (few seconds) magnitude stability in the cross-correlations expressed as a fraction was measured to have a mean of 3.45×10-4 with a standard deviation of ∼2.30×10-4, whilst the figure for the phase was found to have a mean of essentially zero with a standard deviation of 0.0181°. The susceptibility of the system to aliasing for point sources in the scene was examined and found to be well understood. The system was calibrated and security-relevant indoor near-field and out-door far-field imagery was created, at frame rates ranging from 1 to 200 frames per second. The results prove that an aperture synthesis imager can generate imagery in the near-field regime, successfully coping with the curved wave-fronts. The original objective of the project, to deliver a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 laboratory demonstrator for aperture synthesis passive millimetre wave (PMMW) imaging, has been achieved. The project was co-funded by the Technology Strategy Board and the Royal Society of the United Kingdom. © 2011 Copyright Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering|Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng
    Place of PublicationSPIE 8188
    PublisherSPIE
    Volume8188
    ISBN (Print)9780819488169
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011
    EventMillimetre Wave and Terahertz Sensors and Technology IV - Prague
    Duration: 1 Jul 2011 → …

    Conference

    ConferenceMillimetre Wave and Terahertz Sensors and Technology IV
    CityPrague
    Period1/07/11 → …

    Keywords

    • Aperture synthesis
    • digital beam-forming
    • earth observation
    • imaging
    • passive
    • security screening

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