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Pulse length dependence of radar signal strengths for Fresnel backscatter
Author(s) -
Hocking W. K.,
Röttger J.
Publication year - 1983
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/rs018i006p01312
Subject(s) - backscatter (email) , scattering , radar , optics , physics , pulse (music) , computational physics , atmosphere (unit) , fresnel equations , fresnel zone , remote sensing , meteorology , geology , computer science , telecommunications , refractive index , detector , wireless , diffraction
In a recent series of papers a model was developed to explain the strengths of VHF radio echoes backscattered from the atmosphere. The model assumed that a process called ‘Fresnel scattering’ was operating. One feature of the model was the proposal that the scattered signal power should be proportional to the square of the radar pulse length (Δ r ) used. This paper reexamines that proportionality and concludes that for conditions of Fresnel scattering, the scattered power should rather be proportional to the pulse length. It is then shown that under conditions more general than those proposed in these earlier works, the pulse width dependence is more complex than either (Δ r ) or (Δ r ) 2 . These revised assumptions are more appropriate to the real atmosphere and may help explain some experimental results. Experimental data and computer simulations are also discussed.