Scattering by finite, cylindrical dielectric targets with gently varying cross sections

The authors consider the problem of computing the scattered field from finite, cylindrical dielectric targets with a cross section that varies gently in one dimension. An approximate technique is devised to obtain the equivalent volumetric currents induced inside the dielectric target. This technique consists of slicing the dielectric target along the axis of which the cross section varies. The current on each slice is taken to be the same as that on a 2-D cylinder with the same cross section. This 2-D problem is solved using the moment method. The volumetric current is then found by assuming that the current varies linearly between each slice. This theory was tested on three dielectric targets. The backscatter radar-cross-section (RCS), backscatter frequency response, and corresponding impulse response were calculated for transverse-magnetic (TM) polarization. This technique greatly reduces the memory and CPU time required to solve these dielectric scattering problems while at the same time yielding excellent results.<>