A method of RCS determination in time-domain

Presently, in the UWB radars operation there is no rigorous and commonly accepted pattern of describing the reflection characteristics of a target. Since the target reflection characteristics depend considerably on a radar configuration, it seems reasonable to employ some analogue to the classical RCS sigma´ (t), which does not dependent on the distance to target, on the characteristics of Rx and Tx pulse antennas and the amplitude of a pulse exciting the Tx antenna, and which has the dimension of area. The procedure below is proposed in order to determine this characteristic. A simplified structure of the radar is shown in Fig. 1. The pulser 1, using a feed, excites the Tx pulse antenna. The form of the antenna excitation pulses is supposed to be known, and, as shown below, their amplitude is to be unimportant. A pulse of unknown temporal characteristics is excited at the output of the Tx pulse antenna. The directivity characteristics of the Tx pulse antenna are also unknown. Some analogue of this antenna power gain is denoted with g_tx. The target 3 is placed at a fixed range R₀ under the desirable slant in the direction of the radiation maximum. The field scattered by the target incidents on the aperture of the Rx pulse antenna 4 as some pulse of unknown characteristics; the directivity characteristics of this antenna are characterized by g_rx parameter. The Rx pulse antenna 4 converts the electromagnetic pulse into an electric one. As a result, the ultra-short power pulse P₁(t) is dissipated over the load, and the amplitude and form of this pulse are registered.