ASA 127th Meeting M.I.T. 1994 June 6-10

3aPA3. Scattering of incoherently processed FM signals from arrays of rigid spheres.

Theresa A. Baus

Ronald P. Radlinski

Naval Undersea Warfare Ctr. Detachment, New London, CT 06320

The peak target strength for arrays of rigid spherical scatterers insonified by FM signals which are incoherently processed is investigated for frequency, bandwidth, and spatial dependence. Examples of backscattering are given with two scatterers and line arrays of scatterers. Multiple interactions are ignored. For a fixed pulse length, increasing the bandwidth of an incoherently processed FM signal results in greater peak target strength due to increased opportunities for constructive interference from the scatterers. In the Rayleigh region, the ka dependence of an individual scatterer further enhances peak target strength as the bandwidth increases. Increased bandwidth also smooths the aspect dependence of the scattering pattern. Decreasing the spacing between the spheres decreases the number of ripples in the scattering patterns.