SciTech Publishing brings you this low-cost paperback edition of the first and foremost book on this subject for self-study, training, and course work.

Radar cross section (RCS) is a comparison of two radar signal strengths. One is the strength of the radar beam sweeping over a target, the other is the strength of the reflected echo sensed by the receiver. This book shows how the RCS gauge can be predicted for theoretical objects and how it can be measured for real targets. Predicting RCS is not easy, even for simple objects like spheres or cylinders, but this book explains the two exact forms of theory so well that even a novice will understand enough to make close predictions.

Weapons systems developers are keenly interested in reducing the RCS of their platforms. The two most practical ways to reduce RCS are shaping and absorption. This book explains both in great detail, especially in the design, evaluation, and selection of radar absorbers. There is also great detail on the design and employment of indoor and outdoor test ranges for scale models or for full-scale targets (such as aircraft).

In essence, this book covers everything you need to know about RCS, from what it is, how to predict and measure, and how to test targets (indoors and out), and how to beat it.

Key Features
- Radar cross section defined in simple terms for even novices
- Shows how the RCS of targets can be predicted and measured
- Describes the design, operation, and characteristics of indoor and outdoor RCS test ranges
- Presents examples of measured RCS patterns for a selection of large and small test objects
- Discusses target shaping and the design, evaluation, and selection of absorption materials.

Audience
Provides a critical foundation for engineers involved in planning RCS test programs or evaluating test results. A useful reference for technicians new to radar technology, program managers in need of orientation and reference material, and engineers and managers planning to develop RCS prediction codes.

Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Ch. 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Overview 1
1.2 Radar Systems 3
1.3 Electromagnetics 5
1.4 RCS Phenomenology 7
1.5 Absorbing Materials 9
1.6 Measurements 11
1.7 Basic Definitions 13
1.8 Summary 20
Ch. 2 Radar Fundamentals 23
2.2 History of Radar Development 23
2.3 Radar Frequency Bands 25
2.4 Radar System Fundamentals 27
2.5 The Radar Range Equation 44
2.6 Radar Detection 47
2.7 Radar System Performance Examples 54
2.8 Electronic Countermeasures 59
Ch. 3 Physics and Overview of Electromagnetic Scattering 63
3.2 Radar Cross Section Definition 64
3.3 Fundamental Scattering Mechanisms 74
3.4 Scattering Regimes 82
3.5 Electromagnetic Theory 90
Ch. 4 Exact Prediction Techniques 115
4.2 Classical Modal Solutions 116
4.3 Integral Equation Solutions 121
4.4 Phenomenology: Surface Currents, Near Fields, and Imaging 140
4.5 Differential Equation Solutions 160
4.6 Comparisons with High-Frequency Solutions 174
Ch. 5 High-Frequency RCS Prediction Techniques 183
5.2 Geometric Optics 185
5.3 Physical Optics 189
5.4 Geometrical Theory of Diffraction 200
5.5 A Uniform Asymptotic Theory 203
5.6 The Method of Equivalent Currents 206
5.7 The Physical Theory of Diffraction 209
5.8 The Incremental Length Diffraction Coefficient 214
5.9 The Surface Traveling Wave 216
Ch. 6 Phenomenological Examples of Radar Cross Section 225
6.2 Specular Scattering 230
6.3 Surface Waves 242
6.4 Diffraction 250
6.5 Complex Shapes 256
6.6 Natural Targets 260
Ch. 7 Radar Cross Section Reduction 269
7.2 The Four Basic Methods of RCSR 270
7.3 The RCSR Numbers Game 274
7.4 Shaping 277
Ch. 8 Radar Absorbing Materials 297
8.2 Electromagnetic Loss Mechanisms 298
8.3 Specular Scattering from Dielectric Multilayers 300
8.4 Dielectric Multilayer Absorber Design and Performance 313
8.5 Circuit Analog RAM and Frequency-Selective Surfaces 327
8.6 Magnetic RAM 334
8.7 Hybrid RAM and Radar Absorbing Structures 339
8.8 Nonspecular RAM 343
Ch. 9 Radar Absorber Measurement Techniques 361
9.2 Transmission Line Theory 364
9.3 Transmission Line Measurements 373
9.4 Free-Space Methods 387
9.5 Other Methods 395
Ch. 10 Antenna RCS and RCSR 407
10.2 Scattering Fundamentals 408
10.3 Antenna Scattering Characteristics 417
10.4 Antenna RCSR 434
Ch. 11 RCS Measurement Requirements 449
11.1 Measurement Objectives 449
11.2 Types of RCS Measurements 451
11.3 The Farfield Requirement 458
11.4 Great Circle versus Conical Cuts 462
11.5 Target Support Structures 465
11.6 Target-Ground Interactions 473
11.7 Calibration 479
Ch. 12 Outdoor RCS Test Ranges 485
12.2 Instrumentation 486
12.3 The Ground-Plane Effect 493
12.4 Effect of the Antenna Pattern 499
12.5 Ground Reflection Coefficient 504
12.6 Passive Clutter and Multipath Reduction 508
12.7 Defeating the Ground Plane 510
12.8 Examples of Past and Existing Ranges 512
Ch. 13 Indoor RCS Ranges 523
13.2 Chamber Design 524
13.3 Compact Ranges 532
13.4 Instrumentation 539
13.5 Range Operation 542
Ch. 14 Hip-Pocket RCS Estimation, Data Presentation, and Reduction 547
14.2 High-Frequency Scattering by a Complex Target

Eugene F. Knott received his MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1966. He spent 16 years at the University of Michigan Radiation Laboratory conducting RCS measurements of lab models and developing RCS prediction models. At the Georgia Institute of Technology he extended similar models and conducting feasibility programs. His entire career has been spent in RCS-related programs.

John F. Shaeffer has a Ph.D. in physics and was a manager in the Low Observables Engineering Program for the Lockheed-Georgia Possum Works. He was a research scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute where this book was originally developed along with the first RCS short course, and was a cofounder of Mari-etta Scientific, Inc. It was in this capacity where he developed Method of Moment codes for scattering, elec-tromagnetic visualization software, and the theory for bistatic k-space image technique.

Michael T. Tuley earned his MS in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1972. He spent 26 years at Georgia Tech conducting research in RCS, RCSR and radar system performance. In 1998 he joined the Institute for Defense Analysis where he provides analysis support to the Office of the Secretary of the Defense, the Defense Agencies, and the Joint Commands. In 1997 he was elected a Fellow of the IEEE for his contributions to cross section technology.