A low cost, hand-held, microwave radiometer for surface laid mines

The remote detection of surface laid metallic and nonmetallic mines by optical or infrared methods is feasible provided there is no obscuration by local vegetation and there is an adequate contrast ratio. In the situation where vegetation obscures the mine, one method of detecting the mine is by means of a passive microwave radiometer. The principle of passive microwave radiometry is based on a receiving antenna that intercepts the microwave radiation emitted by the scene, providing an output that is proportional to the integrated power gathered by the antenna beam pattern. The output from terminals of the antenna is processed by means of a receiver and the radiometer effectively functions as a power meter. Details of the radiometer architecture are described.