Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate Research Areas

Advanced Millimeter Wave Imaging

Advisor: Mait, Joseph N. (joseph.mait@us.army.mil 301.394.2462)
Adelphi, MD

Key words: Millimeter waves; imaging; diffractive optics; computational imaging

Millimeter wave imagers provide a solution to detecting weapons and suicide vests concealed under clothing.  To date this capability has been demonstrated in settings that allow for portal operations, for example, airports, where individuals are cooperative.  In an urban setting, where a determined suicide bomber can blend into the local populace, a fixed infrastructure is not possible.

One solution to this problem is a mobile imager.  Development of such an imager requires one to overcome several technical challenges.  To reduce the size and weight of passive elements, one can consider new materials and structured materials, such as metamaterials or diffractive elements.  To reduce system volume and increase information per measurement, one can consider computational imaging.

The goal of this research is to develop new technologies, both in the front-end and in post-detection, to enable mobile millimeter wave imaging and to demonstrate the efficacy of these technologies.