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Scattering From a Turbulent Laboratory Plasma at 31 Gigahertz
Author(s) -
Graf K. A.,
Guthart H.,
Douglas D. G.
Publication year - 1971
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 - 10.1029/rs006i007p00737
Subject(s) - scattering , computational physics , physics , optics , turbulence , plasma , incoherent scatter , cross section (physics) , radar , electron density , backscatter (email) , mechanics , nuclear physics , telecommunications , computer science , quantum mechanics , wireless
The scattering of electromagnetic waves from a turbulent plasma has been examined experimentally at 31 GHz. The 31‐GHz cross section data agree well with a scattering model proposed earlier and with 9.4‐GHz data measured earlier. Measurements were made to determine the dependence of the cross section on bistatic angle and electron density. Comprehensive diagnostic measurements were made on the plasma so that the radar measurements could be compared to the scattering model. A synthetic‐aperture, or coherent processing, experiment was also performed to relate the instantaneous scattered field in a small volume (specified by the resolution obtainable by coherent processing techniques) to the instantaneous distribution of electrons in the same volume. The measurements confirm the validity of first‐order Born theory when applied to instantaneous rather than time‐averaged quantities.