Human thermal emissions and their exploitation in passive microwave radar

An investigation of the thermally generated microwave emissions of humans and their ability to be utilized in passive radar applications is to be presented. These investigations will be beneficial to the research areas of concealed human detection, identification and characterization, concealed object detection, through wall imaging and close-in sensing. While this paper conveys work performed in the 240 to 260 GHz regime, the presentation will also include research being performed in the X and W bands. It will be shown that sufficient spectral power is generated at these frequencies by humans not only to be receivable in sensitive passive radar systems but to aid in identification and classification as well.