On characteristic polarization states in the cross-polarized radar channel

The authors present an alternative method for deriving the characteristic polarization states in the cross-polarized radar channel for the monostatic reciprocal case based on a Stokes vector formulation. This formulation has an advantage in its applicability for finding solutions for both completely polarized wave and partially polarized wave cases. It is shown that the optimization procedure for the cross-channel power for the coherent case leads to an eigenvalue equation which explains the characteristic polarization state properties mathematically and physically.<>