Interferometric antenna array with six antennas and a collective-processing correlator for microwave radiometry

Interferometric radiometer using a thinned antenna array is an attractive method for remote sensing from space. The individual correlator scheme for every interferometer needs a large number of hardware correlators. A collective-processing correlator in which all signals and correlation signals are distinguished by frequency can make all signal correlations between every pair of antennas by a square-law detector. The authors made an experimental radiometer with a six antenna thinned array with the collective-processing correlator. Two-dimensional imaging experiments have been made with noise diodes and a fluorescent lamp as imaging targets. Some quality images are obtained by the interferometric synthesis of the correlation data from the collective processing correlator