Radar Polarization Diversity Effects on Target Reradiated Phase Front

摘要

Polarization diversity as a technique to reduce the effects of target glint or angle fluctuation was investigated by means of a combined analytical and experimental program. The analytical portion of the program reported here was based on a simple two-element target model from which the angular error in the reradiated phase front was computed. The results of these computations showed that, within the constraints of the model, polarization diversity could reduce the angular tracking errors. The experimental program used a pulse Doppler conical scan tracking radar with a polarization-agile antenna, field tests conducted with actual targets showed an improvement in target tracking ability with polarization diversity as compared to linear polarization, either horizontal or vertical. Continuing effort in the area includes more sophisticated target models and associated computer simulation to more accurately represent analytically the true target situation. In addition, investigations are proceeding to adapt the polarization diversity techniques to monopulse radars and conduct further experimental evaluation of its effectiveness to reduce phase front errors. (Author)