Scattering measurements in a parallel plate waveguide — First results

This paper describes a parallel plate waveguide designed for scattering and material measurements. The experimental setup can for certain scatterers be considered as a two dimensional radar cross section range. Measurements on metallic circular cylinders of finite length are performed, and the forward radar cross section and the extinction cross section are determined. Two different calibration methods are used, and it is found that the method employing a calibration object is the most accurate. It is concluded that the two dimensional radar cross section in the forward direction can be measured with ±1 dB accuracy at the level of 10cm and the accuracy at the level of 1 cm is estimated to ±3 dB.