Characteristic polarization states in the cross-polarized radar channel

摘要

Abstract: The characteristic polarization theory for the monostatic reciprocal coherent case in the cross-polarized radar channel is developed using a Stokes vector formalism. Power representation in terms of the Stokes vector and the Mueller matrix is utilized to determine the characteristic polarization states for optimal reception of the coherent wave. The optimization procedure for the channel power leads to an eigenvalue equation which explains the characteristic polarization state properties mathematically and physically. A total of six theoretical characteristic polarization states for a single target can be derived by this method. Several target examples are considered to show a perfect agreement with the results obtained by an alternative method of using the polarization transformation ratio formulation for the coherent Sinclair matrix.!11