Comparison of radar polarimetric and lidar scattering matrix measurements and systems calibration methods

Abstract

A systematic approach to the measurements of the four basic scattering matrices used in radar and also recently more frequently in lidar metrology of isolated scatterers and distributed scatter ensembles is considered. The pertinent scattering matrices in use are the 2/spl times/2 complex JONES propagation matrix [T] or the 2/spl times/2 complex Sinclair scattering matrix [S] for the coherent point scatter case; the 2/spl times/2 complex radar power GRAVES matrix [G]=[S] [S] for the coherent case; the 4/spl times/4 real power density Mueller propagation matrix [M] or the 4/spl times/4 real power density Kennaugh scattering matrix [K] and the 3/spl times/3 symmetric (4/spl times/4 asymmetric) case covariance matrix [Z] for the partially polarized cases, which all are distinct but can be related to one another. The authors provide a comparison of polarimetric methods. Measurement made with respective radar and lidar systems are compared with specific applications for assessing EMC noise and clutter signatures. This study shows that the covariance matrix provides the greatest utility. >