High-frequency Radar Cross Section (RCS) Approximation of a Thin Dielectric Spherical Shell

Abstract : The high-frequency radar cross section (RCS) of a thin-filmed dielectric sphere in the far-field was approximated using a model based on two thin parallel dielectric plates. The results were compared to a solution developed by Andreasen based upon simplified boundary conditions. The models were used to estimate the RCS of a balloon with a diameter of 1 m. There was good agreement between the two methods. The RCS of the balloon was much smaller than an identically sized conducting sphere.