Differential phase polarizer used for RCS control

The paper demonstrates the RCS response of linearly polarized (LP) signals incident upon a reflecting surface composed of a differential phase shift polarizer. Specifically, it is shown how to produce an LP signal return from the surface which is orthogonally polarized with respect to the incident wave front, thereby reducing RCS in the original polarisation plane. The method is demonstrated for two types of polarizer: (i) a spread squeeze polarizer; (ii) a new type of three post polarizer which is 50% shorter than the squeeze spread polarizer. Experiments carried out using an orthomode transducer indicate that up to 23 dB signal reduction can be made to occur.