The radar cross section (RCS) of a platform, such as a ship or a submarine, is of particular importance for the Navy since it allows the detection and identification of the vessel. Minimizing the radar reflection improves the stealth properties of the vessel making it more difficult to detect. The observed RCS can also be used to identify a target by comparing it with a database of known profiles. To guide the design of new stealthy platforms, and to ensure the accurate identification of targets, both simulation and measurement are used. However, EM simulations are extremely challenging for large and complex objects that involve multiple constituent materials and fine details. Likewise, in-situ measurements are not always possible due to the availability of the ship (under design, or part of a foreign navy), and even when the vessels signature can be acquired, data are tainted with background noise such as ocean scattering. Noise is particularly large for measurements of a submarine near the marine wave boundary. TIPD and the University of Arizona propose to develop a tabletop radar range leveraging 3D printing, nanophotonics and photonic integrated circuits to serve as an optical emulator for complex electromagnetic systems.
Benefit: The outcome of this program, if successful, will provide the Navy with a tabletop radar range that has the potential to lower the cost, and data acquisition time by orders of magnitude compared to current techniques. This new type of radar range can accelerate the design of new stealthier platforms, and improve the RCS of existing vessels by enabling the real time identification of the radar scattering sites. The tabletop radar range will allow the Navy to reduce the radar signature of existing and next generation ships, to study the RCS of submarines near the marine wave boundary, and estimate the radar signature of foreign ships under a variety of sea conditions. Telecommunications companies can also use the technology to evaluate cell tower locations and estimate coverage for 5G cellular signals.
Keywords: electromagnetic signature, radar emulation, Radar Cross Section (RCS), Photonic integrated circuits., nano-antenna, near surface boundary, Radar range
