Parameters for masking objects with aerosols and the method of their establishment

Highlights

- The new camouflage parameters must account for the probability of concealing space and the probability of distorting the observed image by a transparent aerosol due to the change in the initial direction of light quanta by transparent particles.

- To verify the theoretical propositions, an experimental setup has been proposed to measure direct and altered light quanta, followed by mathematical processing of the results.

Relevance. The use of aerosol obscurants for camouflaging objects against enemy reconnaissance and weapon guidance systems remains a critical task, as evidenced by operational experience in the Special Military Operation (SMO).

Purpose of the study is to determine aerosol masking parameters. They are stipulated by the impact of aerosol particles on visible light range distribution in space (electromagnetic impulse), which contains data on objects to be masked and their background.

Study base sources. Previous articles of these authors on aerosol masking that were published in the Journal of NBC Protection Corps in 2021–2024.

Method. The authors of this article have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the previous approaches to the object aerosol masking and analyzed the traditional opinions about the light quanta interaction when they go through transparent and non-transparent media (aerosol particle assembly).

Results. The authors have identified the shortcomings of the previous approaches to the object aerosol masking, which neglected the aerosol size distribution and the difference in light interactions between transparent and non-transparent aerosols.

Conclusions. The primary parameters for aerosol-based object concealment should include: the spatial obscuration ratio (fraction of space occluded by aerosol particles from an observer or optical device), the photon path distortion ratio (portion of light quanta that, aſter interacting with transparent particles, deviate from their original trajectory and project onto incorrect points of the observed object or background). The total camouflage probability is defined as the sum of these independent probabilistic events. For experimental determination of concealment and distortion probabilities using transparent aerosols, we propose a setup comprising: a standard aerosol chamber and two diffraction gratings: the first grating generates an initial source of plane-polarized light$ the second grating functions as a receiver with opposing movable sectors, designed to measure light intensity at discrete angular intervals during a complete 360° rotation of the measurement device. A dedicated mathematical framework has been developed to process the experimental data and calculate the camouflage parameters.

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