Citation

Abstract

Transmission of a signal in the right-circularly polarized mode using the Polarization Diversity S-Band (PDS) cone in fact results in a slightly elliptically polarized wave. After reflection from a distant surface and return to the antenna, the expected wave polarization is left-circular, Upon reception, a small component of right-circular polarization is present, and is partly the result of transmitting a small left-circular component. A similar fraction of the received left-circular wave is coupled into the received right-circular polarization. The total power in the received right-circular component is 1.2 +0.2% of the power in the received leftcircular component. The instrumental polarization is then 0.6 +0.1%. The data leading to this result were obtained between July and November 1973 by transmitting radar signals to the planet Mars and subsequently measuring the power in the reflections.

Details

Volume
42-27
Published
June 15, 1975
Pages
112–116
File Size
591.3 KB