Radar resonance reflection from sets of plane dielectric layers

Abstract

The prediction of the Resonance Scattering Theory (RST) for the reflection coefficient from a set of two contiguous plane dielectric layers separating two semi-infinite dissimilar nonconducting media, is constructed and compared to the exact classical model solution. The comparison serves to: (a) show the excellence, accuracy, and simplicity of the RST prediction, and (b) to underline the usefulness of the RST to produce clear physical interpretations of generally complex phenomena. In addition, the analysis serves to provide a systematic method for detecting the presence of a dielectric layer under another one covering it (possibly the situation caused by an oil spill in ice-covered Arctic regions), by certain modulation effects present in the ‘‘response surface’’ of the returned echoes, which we describe in the text. This method not only serves to detect, but also to characterize/identify, the material composition of the low or hidden layer in the bilaminar configuration. The process disentangles which resonance feature present in the radar reflection coefficient is caused by which of the two interacting layers. This, therefore, solves the inverse scattering problem for the composition and thickness not only of the top visible (ice) layer, but also of the substance (oil) hidden under that upper layer, via the radar resonances of the reflected echoes.

Detection of Oil in Ice and Snow

“…Resonance scattering theory was proposed as a means of explaining the signals that might be achieved from plane dielectric layers of oil and ice [21,22]. Subsequent analysis showed this to be an inappropriate model [23][24][25][26].…”