New results in backscattering from cones and spheroids

Experimental results are given for backscattering cross sections of cones, prolate spheroids, and oblate spheroids. A brief resume is given first of the image-plane technique used in measuring cross sections. Calibration data show that for cross sections of the order of spheres of 3-inch diameter the attainable accuracy is better than 0.5 db. Cross-section data for various aspects of the targets are compared with geometrical optics cross sections and those obtained by various other theoretical procedures. Some interpretation of the observed phenomena is made in terms of high-frequency approximation techniques.