Like- and cross-polarized scattering cross sections for random rough surfaces: theory and experiment

The unified full-wave solutions for the vertically and horizontally polarized scattered radiation fields and the like- and cross-polarized scattering cross sections for random rough surfaces are presented in this paper. They are compared with the corresponding physical-optics, geometric-optics, and perturbation solutions that are obtained on adopting a two-scale model of the composite rough surface. Computations based on the unified full-wave solution (which accounts for both specular point scattering and diffuse scattering in a self-consistent manner) as well as those based on the two-scale representation of the rough surface are provided for several illustrative examples. It is shown that the two solutions for the cross-polarized backscatter cross sections differ significantly for near-normal incidence. The solution based on the unified approach is consistent with experimental data.