DISCRIMINATION OF TARGET SCATTERING CENTERS USING RCS AND POLARIMETRIC SIGNATURES

Until recently, when multi-polarization radars were introduced, not al l the fundamental properties of an electromagnetic wave were being exp loited fully to detect and identify targets. An attempt is made, to re -unite in a single article, the complex RCS (both magnitude and phase) , polarization (coherent) and depolarization signatures of two types o f targets-simple and complex. The objective is to concentrate on the b asic scattering components that all targets possess and to model them on the basis of their high-frequency response to an incident electroma gnetic wave. Detailed equations of the scattering process and the sign atures that result from them are presented. It is discussed how the am plitude, phase, polarization and depolarization signatures can be util ized in the discrimination stage of the recognition process.