Parallel plate scattering range measurements utilizing an automatic network analyzer

The monostatic radar cross sections (RCS) of a metal cube and a metal rod measured in a 7-foot-long parallel plate range from 0.3 MHz to 3 GHz with an HP 8753 automatic network analyzer are presented and shown to correlate within a few dB with theoretical estimates for frequencies throughout the Rayleigh region and into the resonance region of the targets. The usefulness of the range is limited to frequencies less than about 2 GHz by nonuniformities in the incident field thought to be caused by propagation of higher order modes between the parallel plates. Some improvement may be obtained by taking more care not to excite these modes in the feed region to the range.<>