A full RCS calibration technique using a dihedral corner reflector

A full RCS (radar cross section) calibration technique using a dihedral corner reflector is presented. This method differs from several previous studies in the following aspects: (1) the frequency responses of four measurement channels can be mutually independent and thus no special care has to be taken for signal paths; (2) only scattering matrix measurements of the dihedral at two orientations about the line-of-sight direction are needed since the transmitter and receiver are related through the reciprocity theorem; and (3) simple and useful expressions are used to solve for the calibration parameters. The proposed calibration technique was evaluated by calibrating the cross-polarized return of a sphere, which should be zero. Time domain responses illustrate about a 10-dB overall improvement by using the full calibration procedure.<>