Phase Pattern Calibration for Interferometric Applications in Spaceborne SAR Systems

SAR is a widely used technique to acquire images for geoscience and earth observation applications. Active phased array antennas are commonly used in spaceborne SAR systems. For certain modes and applications, it is necessary to know the phase behavior of these phased array antennas. For application...

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Main Authors: Markus Bachmann, Marco Schwerdt, Gabriel Castellanos Alfonzo, Dirk Schrank
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:International Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/284698
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author Markus Bachmann
Marco Schwerdt
Gabriel Castellanos Alfonzo
Dirk Schrank
author_facet Markus Bachmann
Marco Schwerdt
Gabriel Castellanos Alfonzo
Dirk Schrank
author_sort Markus Bachmann
collection DOAJ
description SAR is a widely used technique to acquire images for geoscience and earth observation applications. Active phased array antennas are commonly used in spaceborne SAR systems. For certain modes and applications, it is necessary to know the phase behavior of these phased array antennas. For applications utilizing the different polarization channels for interferometry, the phase difference between the polarizations needs to be calibrated very accurately as it is the main evaluation parameter. Also for single-pass interferometric missions, the difference between the two antennas in terms of phase gradients is of major importance. This paper demonstrates for the first time the usage of phase patterns in an operational interferometric SAR mission. It describes why these phase patterns are required and how they are used to fulfill the different goals of the missions. Then, the mathematical model to derive the phase of the antenna patterns is shown. Finally, the paper explains how the antenna patterns are calibrated in order to minimize their residual errors and describes in detail the measurements performed for this calibration and verification.
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language English
publishDate 2013-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series International Journal of Antennas and Propagation
spelling doaj-art-cdfecb95bbb3494db1a6a5582950dca42025-08-20T02:20:02ZengWileyInternational Journal of Antennas and Propagation1687-58691687-58772013-01-01201310.1155/2013/284698284698Phase Pattern Calibration for Interferometric Applications in Spaceborne SAR SystemsMarkus Bachmann0Marco Schwerdt1Gabriel Castellanos Alfonzo2Dirk Schrank3German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Weßling, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Weßling, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Weßling, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Weßling, GermanySAR is a widely used technique to acquire images for geoscience and earth observation applications. Active phased array antennas are commonly used in spaceborne SAR systems. For certain modes and applications, it is necessary to know the phase behavior of these phased array antennas. For applications utilizing the different polarization channels for interferometry, the phase difference between the polarizations needs to be calibrated very accurately as it is the main evaluation parameter. Also for single-pass interferometric missions, the difference between the two antennas in terms of phase gradients is of major importance. This paper demonstrates for the first time the usage of phase patterns in an operational interferometric SAR mission. It describes why these phase patterns are required and how they are used to fulfill the different goals of the missions. Then, the mathematical model to derive the phase of the antenna patterns is shown. Finally, the paper explains how the antenna patterns are calibrated in order to minimize their residual errors and describes in detail the measurements performed for this calibration and verification.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/284698
spellingShingle Markus Bachmann
Marco Schwerdt
Gabriel Castellanos Alfonzo
Dirk Schrank
Phase Pattern Calibration for Interferometric Applications in Spaceborne SAR Systems
International Journal of Antennas and Propagation
title Phase Pattern Calibration for Interferometric Applications in Spaceborne SAR Systems
title_full Phase Pattern Calibration for Interferometric Applications in Spaceborne SAR Systems
title_fullStr Phase Pattern Calibration for Interferometric Applications in Spaceborne SAR Systems
title_full_unstemmed Phase Pattern Calibration for Interferometric Applications in Spaceborne SAR Systems
title_short Phase Pattern Calibration for Interferometric Applications in Spaceborne SAR Systems
title_sort phase pattern calibration for interferometric applications in spaceborne sar systems
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/284698
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AT gabrielcastellanosalfonzo phasepatterncalibrationforinterferometricapplicationsinspacebornesarsystems
AT dirkschrank phasepatterncalibrationforinterferometricapplicationsinspacebornesarsystems