Simultaneous scattering matrix measurement through signal coding

A method making use of signal coding for simultaneous measurement of all four elements of a target scattering matrix with a polarimetric radar is studied. The method is based on a simultaneous transmission of two orthogonal signals on two orthogonal polarization channels. The four elements of the scattering matrix are retrieved on reception by correlating the signal on each polarization channel with both orthogonal signals. Although the method increases the radar system complexity, it potentially overcomes the limitations of the measurement accuracy introduced by the fast polarization switch and may also improve both polarization and Doppler processing of radar signals