Microwave geodesy by interferometric radiometry |
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| Authors: | Angelo James Skalafuris |
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| Institution: | (1) Washington, D.C., USA |
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| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to establish a new method-first introduced by Soviet scientists in 1972 —for mapping the Earth in the microwave region passively using the interference pattern which results by correlating the signals from two radiometers which presumably can be mounted in two or more moving satellites. In such a procedure, the image is enhanced progressively by synthetic composition similar to that achieved by air-borne synthetic aperture radar. The only question left open by the Soviet originators is if the signal-to-backround ratio was sufficiently strong to think about implementing the system in more practical terms. By practical terms, I mean the construction of electronics to surmount instrumental noise and possible atmospheric interference. These two latter questions are not addressed at this stage of the analysis, but only the basic question of signal-to-backround. It appears that the signal-to-backround ratio can be reduced to a minimum level determined by the fringe spacing created which in turn is a function of satellite separation. It is shown that the signal-to-backround ratio becomes proportional to target area over resolution cell size and is enhanced by a mechanism of defocusing the interferometric radiometer. This reduction in the field of view suppresses background noise which surrounds the target within the foot-print size, to the enhancement of signal-to-background ratio. In addition, near field viewing in the Fresnel region permits the determination of cross range as well as range by measurement of the difference in the radii of curvature of the impinging wave front at the different vantage points of the two detectors. Thus near-field interferometric viewing permits two-dimensional range determination contrary to the usual astronomical applications which are far field and only one dimensional. |
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