Antenna Characterization Based on Backscattered Electromagnetic Waves

This paper proposes a Radar technique to reconstruct the intrinsic properties of antennas. The study presents the measurements and CST MWS simulations of the backscattered wave and Radar Cross Section (RCS) of two target-antennas over a wide frequency range (1-8 GHz). A calibration process based on standard metal targets with well-known RCS values, combined to a gating-time filter is used to extract the reradiate antenna mode with good accuracy. Based on a linear quadrupole model, the antenna transmission parameters are connected to the reradiate antenna mode and the system of equations is solved with several sets of measurements or simulations using multiple terminal load impedances. The antenna, gain and reflection coefficient both measured and simulated are reconstructed with the Radar technique and are compared to the results of conventional measurements and CST MWS simulations. The method is simple in its implementation and has proven to be effective.