Analysis of induced surface currents on high velocity target using a relativistic approach

Abstract

Radar is an electromagnetic system used for the detection and location of objects based on reflection. It operates by radiating energy into space and detecting the echo signal reflected from an object or target. This work analyzes how currents are induced on targets by the electromagnetic waveforms radiated by an antenna when the object is moving at high velocity. It is assumed that the target is a perfect electric conductor moving at high velocity. This work analyzes how the amplitude, the frequency and the duration of these currents are affected by the target velocity. The transmitted electromagnetic waveforms can then be calculated using vector potentials and by using the Lorentz transformation, the electromagnetic waveform is transformed from the stationary reference frame to a moving reference frame. Currents induced on the object can be modeled by using the transformed waveform and the equivalence principle. The object radiates an electromagnetic waveform as a consequence of the induced currents. The radiated waveform is calculated using the vector potentials and once more the reflected waveform is transformed from the moving reference frame to the stationary reference frame using the Lorentz transformation. Finally the equivalence principle was used to calculate currents induced in the antenna by the reflected electromagnetic waveforms. The relationship of the induced current on the antenna as a function of the target velocity is analyzed.