Cone tip scattering: Endfire region

Significant scattering from the tip of a finite cone viewed at rear aspect angles has previously been reported. The observed return from the far end of the target is largest for horizontal polarization at near grazing angles of incidence. The contribution to the tip return arising from direct diffraction is obtained by consideration of scattering from a slender semi-infinite cone. Comparison of these results with experiment then provides information on the effect of traveling-wave contributions to the tip return.