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A Study of the Depolarization of Lunar Radar Echoes
Author(s) -
Tor Hagfors
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1002/rds196725445
Subject(s) - specular reflection , polarization (electrochemistry) , scattering , radar , optics , wavelength , physics , linear polarization , reflection (computer programming) , geology , computational physics , telecommunications , laser , chemistry , computer science , programming language
The radar backscattering characteristics of the lunar surface are examined in detail at a wavelength of 23 cm. The backscattered waves are studied both for circular and for linear polarization of the transmitted wave. Effects relating to the orientation of the local plane of incidence on the moon with respect to the polarization of transmitted or scattered waves are investigated. The experimental results appear to strongly support the hypothesis that the returns at oblique angles of incidence arise through single scattering from discrete objects, as opposed to the returns at near normal incidence which are dominated by quasi‐specular reflection.