New hybrid remote sensing method using HPM illumination/IR detection for mine detection

A new hybrid remote-sensing method using active high-power microwave (HPM) illumination and passive infrared (IR) detection is presented for the detection of shallow buried landmines. A 2.45 GHz, 5 kW microwave source was used for illumination. The thermal signature of the mine at the soil surface was detected in the 8 - 12 micrometer region both in near real-time as well as after a brief time-delay following illumination. The thermal signature at the soil surface is primarily made up of two components. A thermal signature occurs at the soil surface in near real-time due to the interference of the incident beam and the beam reflected by the mine. A second thermal signature is generated when the variations in heating due to differential microwave absorption by the mine and the surrounding soil is conducted upwards from the mine location to the surface. Both signatures are dependent on the complex dielectric constants of the mine and the soil. Results will be presented from laboratory experiments and field trials with different types of metallic and non-metallic mine surrogates, dummy mines without explosives and live mines with explosives but without fuses.