Investigation of edge scattering by high-resolution polarisation diversity radar imaging

The polarimetric behavior of scattering centers showing up in experimental highly resolved 2D radar images of metal cubes and plates is analyzed in terms of Kennaugh's and Huynen's target characteristic operator theory. It is shown, in particular, that the polarimetric properties of an isolated edge do not depend on frequency in the range 8-18 GHz, but they do depend weakly on the target aspect. Model calculations based on the uniform theory of diffraction accounting only for first-order wave propagation are found to provide an adequate description of the experimental findings.