Single reference, three target calibration and error correction for monostatic, polarimetric free space measurements

The authors present a scheme for absolute calibration of a polarimetric scattering range. All free-space polarimetric radar cross section (RCS) and antenna measurements are subject to errors like coupling and residual reflections. The modeling of these errors results in a 12-term error correction. The procedure for the error correction with three linear independent calibration targets and an isolation measurement is shown. Based on network analysis, a single reference calibration is introduced. This single reference calibration requires the precise calculation of only one reference target. As single references, spheres or flat plates are used. The references of the other targets are determined by the calibration procedure. The single reference calibration is suitable for all narrow and wideband, complex, polarimetric RCS, and antenna measurements. Measurements are shown for different targets which demonstrate the benefits of the single reference calibration