The scattering of electromagnetic waves from targets with composite dielectric and metallic surfaces

The scattering properties of targets composed of cylinders and disks of various sizes and complex composition are investigated both experimentally and theoretically. In particular, the two components of the backscattered fields from these targets are measured in both amplitude and relative phase, yielding the polarization scattering matrix, referred to circular base vectors at X-band. Numerically, the scattering problem is formulated in terms of the equivalent currents on the surface of the scatterers, leading to a set of integral equations which are solved using the method of moments. The approach is flexible, as it can be applied to scatterers of varying sizes, shapes, and material composition. Results are presented for targets of complex composition, particularly with surfaces that are partially dielectric and partially metallic, and of various sizes and dimensional ratios around the resonance region.<>