A Monte Carlo method for radar backscatter from a half-space random medium

The problem of electromagnetic multiple scattering in a random medium is treated by a Monte Carlo method, in which an incident beam of photons is progressively scattered by scattering centers in the medium. The theory characterizes each scattering by functions describing the probability of the photon being scattered or absorbed, and the probability of its being scattered into certain directions. This process is tracked until the photon is finally absorbed or backscattered into the receiver. Variance reduction techniques are introduced to reduce the computation time required for acceptable ensemble averages of the backscattering cross sections. Ellipsoidal dielectric scatterers are used to model circular disk-shaped leaves, elliptical disk-shaped leaves, and needle-shaped leaves, which are randomly distributed in a half-space medium. The Monte Carlo simulations give good comparison with experimental data of backscattering cross sections from fields of wheat, corn, and milo