Device and method for determining all components of the stokes polarization vector with a radar signal

摘要

A polarimeter for measuring the polarization state of a wideband electromagnetic signal. The polarimeter includes a first antenna for receiving the electromagnetic signal and a modulator. The modulator is interconnected with the first antenna for modulating the electromagnetic signal whereby a modulated electromagnetic signal results which contains a different polarization state for each frequency of the electromagnetic signal and wherein the amplitude of each frequency component of the modulated electromagnetic signal is a function of the particular polarization state of each frequency component of the electromagnetic signal. Also, the modulator may be configured to modulate at a radar frequency. A linear polarizer is also provided which may be configured to pass a first predetermined polarization of the modulated electromagnetic signal through a first output thereof. Further, a first receiver is provided which includes a detector for receiving and demodulating the modulated electromagnetic signal from the linear polarizer.