An Experimental Study of Bistatic Scattering from Some Small, Absorber-Coated, Metal Shapes

Abstract

Experimental data are presented on the bistatic scattering cross sections of some small metal bodies, uncoated and coated with a resonant, lossy layer. All of the targets-spheres, cylinders, and cones?are of a size to be in the resonant region at wavelengths of approximately 3 cm. All of the bodies indicate a similar trend-the coated bodies are effectively camouflaged in the back hemisphere, but not in the forward hemisphere. In the forward direction, the scattering cross sections of the coated bodies are at least as large as, or larger than, those of the uncoated bodies. The bistatic angles beyond which this enhancement is effective become smaller as the electrical size of the body decreases, i. e., as frequency decreases.