Imaging of radar targets using parabolic reflectors

Summary form only given. We consider the problem of imaging of radar targets using parabolic reflectors. The radar target is represented as a summation of point sources of appropriate strength and polarization. Using traditional vector electromagnetic (EM) field theory, the EM field produced by these sources in the vicinity of the parabolic reflector (far field) is calculated. Subsequently, the electric current distribution induced on the parabolic reflector surface is calculated by using the physical optics (PO) approximation. Finally, the electric field distribution (image) along the focal plane of the reflector is calculated through conventional EM vector field theory. For this purpose, an integration of the induced reflector currents over its paraboloid surface is necessary, and this calculation is performed by using paraboloidal coordinates. We perform this calculation in various ways, such as direct analytical and numerical integration, or through the method of stationary phase (SPM), for comparison purposes. Simple analytical formulae concerning the electric field distribution along the focal plane (image) are derived for the case that the sources´ ´center of mass´ lies on the principal axis of the reflector, and when their polarization is assumed linear. Then, even though our presentation begins with very general arguments and assumptions, it yields very simple analytical results for several special cases of target description