Christophe Bourlier

Fast numerical method for electromagnetic scattering by rough layered interfaces: propagation-inside-layer expansion method.

Electromagnetic scattering from a stack of two one-dimensional rough surfaces separating homogeneous media is modeled with a rigorous integral formulation solved by the method of moments. We present an efficient numerical method for computing the field scattered by such rough layers, in reflection as well as in transmission. We call this method propagation-inside-layer expansion (PILE) due to its straightforward physical interpretation. To our knowledge, it is the first method able to handle problems for this configuration with a huge number of unknowns. We study the convergence of this method versus a coupling condition and validate it by comparison with results from the literature.

Fast method to compute scattering by a buried object under a randomly rough surface: PILE combined with FB-SA

A fast, exact numerical method based on the method of moments (MM) is developed to calculate the scattering from an object below a randomly rough surface. Déchamps et al. [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A23, 359 (2006)] have recently developed the PILE (propagation-inside-layer expansion) method for a stack of two one-dimensional rough interfaces separating homogeneous media. From the inversion of the impedance matrix by block (in which two impedance matrices of each interface and two coupling matrices are involved), this method allows one to calculate separately and exactly the multiple-scattering contributions inside the layer in which the inverses of the impedance matrices of each interface are involved. Our purpose here is to apply this method for an object below a rough surface. In addition, to invert a matrix of large size, the forward-backward spectral acceleration (FB-SA) approach of complexity O(N) (N is the number of unknowns on the interface) proposed by Chou and Johnson [Radio Sci.33, 1277 (1998)] is applied. The new method, PILE combined with FB-SA, is tested on perfectly conducting circular and elliptic cylinders located below a dielectric rough interface obeying a Gaussian process with Gaussian and exponential height autocorrelation functions.

Scattering by an object above a randomly rough surface from a fast numerical method: Extended PILE method combined with FB-SA

In this paper, a fast exact numerical method, based on the method of moments, is developed to calculate the scattering by an object above a rough surface. N. Déchamps et al. have recently developed the PILE (Propagation-Inside-Layer Expansion) method for a stack of two one-dimensional rough interfaces separating homogeneous media. This method allows us to calculate separately and exactly the multiple scattering contributions inside the layer. This is done with a decomposition by block of the impedance matrix (the inverse of the impedance matrix of each interface and two coupling matrices are involved). The purpose of this paper is to extend the PILE method to the more general case of two illuminated surfaces and to apply it to an object located above a rough surface. In addition, to invert a matrix of large size, the Forward–Backward Spectral Acceleration (FB-SA) approach of complexity 𝒪(N) proposed by Chou and Johnson is applied. The new method, extended PILE combined with FB-SA, is tested on Perfectly Conducting (PC) circular and elliptic cylinders located above a rough surface (dielectric or PC) obeying a Gaussian process with Gaussian and exponential height autocorrelation functions.

A duct mapping method using least squares support vector machines

This paper introduces a “refractivity from clutter” (RFC) approach with an inversion method based on a pregenerated database. The RFC method exploits the information contained in the radar sea clutter return to estimate the refractive index profile. Whereas initial efforts are based on algorithms giving a good accuracy involving high computational needs, the present method is based on a learning machine algorithm in order to obtain a real-time system. This paper shows the feasibility of a RFC technique based on the least squares support vector machine inversion method by comparing it to a genetic algorithm on simulated and noise-free data, at 1 and 5 GHz. These data are simulated in the presence of ideal trilinear surface-based ducts. The learning machine is based on a pregenerated database computed using Latin hypercube sampling to improve the efficiency of the learning. The results show that little accuracy is lost compared to a genetic algorithm approach. The computational time of a genetic algorithm is very high, whereas the learning machine approach is real time. The advantage of a real-time RFC system is that it could work on several azimuths in near real time.

Electromagnetic Scattering From a Rough Layer: Propagation-Inside-Layer Expansion Method Combined to the Forward-Backward Novel Spectral Acceleration

In this paper, an efficient method is developed to calculate the bistatic cross section (BSC) from a stack of two one-dimensional rough interfaces separating homogeneous media. The PILE (propagation-inside-layer expansion) method recently developed by Dechamps was efficient with a complexity ( being the number of samples per interface). To reduce this complexity, a fast method valid for a single rough surface, the forward-backward with novel spectral acceleration (FBNSA) is combined to the PILE method. Furthermore, the calculation of the coupling interactions between both interfaces are also accelerated using the NSA. The PILE-FBNSA method reaches then a complexity of only . A study of the convergence of the PILE is done and compared to the FBNSA of Moss

Modeling of the Bistatic Electromagnetic Scattering From Sea Surfaces Covered in Oil for Microwave Applications

This paper describes the influence of oil pollution over sea surfaces on the height spectrum and the height autocorrelation function of rough surfaces. An oil slick damps the capillarity waves of the surface height spectrum and reduces the root mean square slope of the surface. These modified functions then have an influence on the radar cross section (RCS) from contaminated sea surfaces. The bistatic RCS of the contaminated sea surface is then presented by comparison with a clean sea: results from a benchmark numerical model are presented and compared with a new semiempirical model using the geometric optics approximation and then the first-order smallslope approximation.

Electromagnetic Scattering From a Rough Layer: Propagation-Inside-Layer Expansion Method Combined to an Updated BMIA/CAG Approach

An efficient method is developed to calculate the bistatic scattering coefficient (BSC) from a stack of two one-dimensional rough interfaces separating homogeneous media. The propagation-inside-layer expansion (PILE) method recently published by Dechamps was efficient with a complexity O(N2) (N being the number of samples per interface). To reduce this complexity, a fast method valid for a single rough surface, the banded matrix iterative approach/canonical grid (BMIA/CAG) is combined to the PILE method. Furthermore, the calculation of the coupling interactions between both interfaces are also accelerated using a new method similar to the BMIA/CAG. The PILE method reaches then a complexity of only O(NlogN). A study of the convergence of the PILE is done and compared to another efficient method, the forward-backward.

Monostatic and bistatic statistical shadowing functions from a one-dimensional stationary randomly rough surface according to the observation length: I. Single scattering

Abstract When solving electromagnetic rough-surface scattering problems, the effect of shadowing by the surface roughness often needs to be considered, especially as the illumination angle approaches grazing incidence. This paper presents the Ricciardi-Sato, as well as the Wagner and the Smith formulations for calculating the monostatic and bistatic statistical shadowing functions from a one-dimensional rough stationary surface, which are valid for an uncorrelated Gaussian process with an infinite surface length. In this paper, these formulations are extended to include a finite surface length and any uncorrelated process. The inclusion of a finite surface length is needed to extend the single-reflection shadowing function to the more general multiple-reflection case, presented in the following companion paper. Comparisons of these shadowing functions with the exact numerical solution for the shadowing (using surfaces with Gaussian and Lorentzian autocorrelation functions for a Gaussian process) shows that the Smith formulation without correlation is a good approximation, and that including correlation only weakly improves the model. This paper also presents a method to include the shadowing effect in the electromagnetic scattering problem.

Method of Moments for 2D Scattering Problems: Basic Concepts and Applications

In this book, the method of moments (MoM) is addressed to compute the field scattered by scatterers such as canonical objects (cylinder or plate) or a randomly rough surface, and also by an object above or below a random rough surface. Because the problem is considered two-dimensional (2D), the integral equations (IEs) are scalar and only the transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations are considered (no cross polarizations occur). Chapter 1 analyzes how the MoM with the point matching method and pulse basic functions is applied to convert the IEs into a linear system. In addition, chapter 1 presents the statistical parameters necessary to generate Gaussian random rough surfaces. Chapter 2 compares the MoM with the exact solution of the field scattered by a circular cylinder in free space, and with the physical optics (PO) approximation for the scattering from a plate in free space. Chapter 3 presents numerical results, obtained from the MoM combined with the efficient E-PILE method, of the scattering from two illuminated scatterers and how the E-PILE algorithm can be hybridized with asymptotic or rigorous methods valid for the scattering from a single scatterer(alone). Chapter 4 presents the same results as in Chapter 3 but for an object above a random rough surface or for a coated (circular or elliptical) cylinder. In the last two chapters, the coupling between the two scatterers is also studied in detail by inverting the impedance matrix by blocks.

A Geometrical Optics Model of Three Dimensional Scattering From a Rough Layer With Two Rough Surfaces

An asymptotic method is described for predicting the bistatic normalized radar cross section of a rough homogeneous layer made up of two rough surfaces. The model is based on iteration of the Kirchhoff approximation to calculate the fields scattered by the rough layer, and is reduced to the high-frequency limit in order to obtain numerical results rapidly. Shadowing effects, significant for large incidence or scattering angles, are taken into account through the use of shadowing functions. The model is applicable for moderate to large surface roughnesses having small to moderate slopes, and for both lossless and lossy inner media. It was validated for a rough layer with a rough surface over a perfectly flat surface in a preceding contribution. Here, the extension of the model to a rough layer with two rough surfaces is developed, and results are presented to validate the asymptotic model by comparison with a numerical reference method.