265.

[Cover] [Contents] [Index]

Page 37

Figure 1.21 Elliptical polarisation state for polarisation synthesis (modified from Evans et al. (1988)). See text for explanation.

from a target as a vector quantity in such a way that the complex backscattered characteristics of any transmitting and receiving polarisation configuration can be determined. Such backscattered characteristics are represented in terms of a scattering matrix [S] (van de Hulst, 1981):

(1.30)

where element S_hv is determined by measuring both the amplitude and phase of the electric field where a vertically polarised wave is transmitted and the scattered wave is received in horizontal polarisation. The remaining elements are obtained in a similar fashion. The relationship between the electric field E_s of the scattered wave, the electric field E_t of the transmitting wave, and [S] is expressed as (van Zyl et al., 1987):

(1.31)

[Cover] [Contents] [Index]