The K-pulse concept

Two general classes of inversion techniques may be distinguished: those utilizing angular or spatial frequency analysis over as wide a range of target aspects as practicable, and those involving relatively few aspects but employing as wide a frequency spectrum as possible. The latter technique is discussed, and a special excitation waveform called the "kill-pulse" or K-pulse is proposed. By analogy with lumped and distributed networks, a unique aspect-invariant excitation waveform is postulated for an isolated scatterer. This waveform, of finite and minimal duration, then characterizes the pole spectrum of the scatterer as used in the singularity expansion method (SEM) or for target identification. The derivation of this excitation waveform and its relation to one or more surface waves is illustrated by several examples. Using surface waves initiated at certain points of an object, the complex attenuation of circumnavigating waves is estimated by the geometrical theory of diffraction. Three-parameter characteristic equations are derived which predict pole strings with excellent accuracy for conducting spheres and cylinders and lesser accuracy for prolate spheroids of several axial ratios. For spheres and cylinders, the same characteristic equation also yields good estimates of cavity resonance frequencies.