Scattering of microwaves by figures of revolution

This paper describes the experimental instrumentation and techniques for measuring the scattered fields from figures of revolution. The scattered fields evaluated by using geometrical-optic and physical-optic approximations are compared with experimental data to determine the applicability of these high-frequency approximations. Measurements of the back-scattered signals from finite cones and a prolate spheroid mounted on a large image-plane were made by comparing these signals with that of a calibration sphere. The near-zone scattered fields from a sphere and a prolate spheroid were determined by measuring the magnitudes and phases of the total fields at all azimuth angles with and without the scatterers in place. Experimental data for spheres are given to illustrate the accuracy of the experimental techniques.