An investigation of bistatic calibration objects

• Published in: IEEE transactions on geoscience and remote sensing Vol. 43; no. 10; pp. 2177 - 2184
• Main Authors: Bradley, C.J., Collins, P.J., Fortuny-Guasch, J., Hastriter, M.L., Nesti, G., Terzuoli, A.J., Wilson, K.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.10.2005; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied geophysics; Availability; Bistatic; Bistatic radar; Calibration; Crosstalk; Disks; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Error analysis; Error detection; Exact sciences and technology; Government; Internal geophysics; Mathematical analysis; Microwave signatures; Polarization; Radar cross section; radar cross section (RCS); Radar cross sections; Radar scattering; Receiving antennas; scattering; Transmitters; Southern Europe; Italy; microwaves; far-field; wave scattering; scattering; Index Terms-Bistatic; Europe; accuracy; remote sensing; radar cross section (RCS); calibration; radar methods; errors
• ISSN: 0196-2892; 1558-0644
• DOI: 10.1109/TGRS.2005.855138

Several popular metallic bistatic calibration objects are investigated, including a sphere, long and short cylinders, dihedral, trihedral, circular disk and wire mesh. Comparisons are made between the advantages and disadvantages of various objects for calibration. The analysis addresses sensitivity to object alignment error, availability of accurate radar cross section (RCS) calculations and bistatic RCS levels. Both theoretical concepts and practical considerations are discussed based on measurements accomplished at the European Microwave Signature Laboratory (EMSL) of the EC Joint Research Center (JRC) in Ispra, Italy. This facility has the capability to produce far-field fully polarimetric precision bistatic measurements in a 30 cm diameter quiet zone, suitable for comparing different calibration objects.