Identification of a reflective surface as being associated with a threat optic

A system comprising:

• a first laser system configured to emit a first laser signal at a first wavelength and a first emission circular polarization orientation;
• a wave plate configured to convert into linearly polarized light a first signal reflection of the first laser signal from a reflective surface at the first wavelength;
• a plurality of polarizers configured to be oriented at different orientation positions and to pass the linearly polarized light in a downstream direction;
• a first detector configured to receive the linearly polarized light from the plurality of polarizers;
• a processor device configured to:
• determine a first return quantification of the first signal reflection based at least in part on an amount of circularity of polarization of the first signal reflection by:
• determining a ratio of light received at the different orientation positions;
• and
• determining the amount of circularity of polarization of the first signal reflection based on the ratio;
• and
• determine whether the reflective surface is associated with a threat optic based at least in part on the first return quantification.

A method for identifying a threat optic in a scene, comprising:

• emitting, from a first laser system, a first laser signal at a first wavelength and a first emission circular polarization orientation;
• detecting a first signal reflection of the first laser signal from a reflective surface at the first wavelength;
• determining a first return quantification of the first signal reflection based at least in part on an amount of circular polarization of the first signal reflection;
• determining that the reflective surface is associated with a threat optic based at least in part on the first return quantification;
• emitting, from a second laser system, a second laser signal at a second wavelength and a second emission circular polarization orientation, wherein the second wavelength is different from the first wavelength or the second emission circular polarization orientation is different from the first emission circular polarization orientation;
• detecting a second signal reflection of the second laser signal from the reflective surface at the second wavelength having a second return circular polarization orientation different from the second emission circular polarization orientation;
• determining a second return quantification of the second signal reflection based at least in part on an amount of circular polarization of the second signal reflection;
• and
• determining a composition of the threat optic based at least in part on a comparison of the first return quantification to the second return quantification.