Ultra-Wideband Polarimetric Characterization of Electromagnetic Scattering Objects Using the Frequency Signature of their Jones Matrix

The introduction of polarimetric analysis to Ultra- Wideband (UWB) have attracted much research interest due to its ability to exploit resonant responses and enhance detection capabilities in Concealed Object Detection (COD) and other radar applications. Since the correct characterization of the unique features of objects is a crucial element in the proper identification and classification of the same, this paper proposes the use of the Jones matrix, which fully describes the polarimetric interaction of the scattered electromagnetic field and objects in a monostatic configuration, for the extraction of their frequency signatures. The paper begins with the formulation of an algorithm to obtain the basis independent Jones matrix in terms of a transformation by a rotational matrix. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is then performed on the results to extract the principal values which constitutes the frequency signature of objects. A comparison of UWB frequency signatures of different objects with different geometries as well as the same obj ects under different orientations have been presented.