Scattering cross section modulation for arbitrarily oriented composite rough surfaces: Full wave approach

Abstract

As a synthetic aperture radar scans different portions of a rough surface, the direction of the unit vector normal to the mean surface of the effective illuminated area (resolution cell) fluctuates. In this paper the modulation of the like and cross polarized scattering cross sections of the resolution cell are determined as the normal to it tilts in planes that are in and perpendicular to the fixed reference plane of incidence. By using the full wave approach, the scattering cross sections are expressed as a weighted sum of two cross sections. The first cross section is associated with scales of roughness within the effective illuminated area that are large compared to the radar wavelength, and the second cross section is associated with small‐scale spectral components within the resolution cell. Thus both specular point scattering and Bragg scattering are accounted for in a self‐consistent manner. The results are compared with earlier solutions based on first‐order Bragg scattering theory.