A monostatic radio-acoustic sounding system

Practical radar-acoustic sounding systems (RASS) generally employ a bistatic scheme with the radar source and receiver placed symmetrically beside the acoustic radiator. This paper presents a novel method to combine the acoustic and the electromagnetic waves. A wire grid redirects the electromagnetic wave into the direction of the ultrasound propagation. The acoustic wave travels through the grid undisturbed. The monostatic RASS needs only one HF-antenna and therefore no dead zone exists in front of the system. Measurements show that a maximum distance of 30 m can be reached. The temperature profile in that range was determined with an accuracy of /spl plusmn/0.5 K.