SCATTERING FROM A METALLIC OBJECT EMBEDDED NEAR THE RANDOMLY ROUGH-SURFACE OF A LOSSY DIELECTRIC

Two-dimensional electromagnetic scattering from a perfectly conducting target embedded near the randomly rough surface of an isotropic lossy dielectric is investigated. The randomly rough surface is illuminated by a finite width beam from an antenna in the free space above the su rface, with off-normal incidence, Standard integral equation methods a re applied and include all subsurface interactions between the object and rough surface. For a chosen embedded target, Monte Carlo simulatio ns are performed for a selection of ensembles of rough surface types i ntended to be suggestive of natural ground. Far field scattering coeff icient distributions and corresponding synthetic images suggest when t he buried object should be discernible. Sensitivities are explored in terms of surface type, polarization of the incident field, depth and o rientation of target, soil characteristics, incidence angle, and beamw idth. Many of the scattering features identified should also apply in 3-D.