Conical beam interferometer: FPIR concept and development

This paper presents a novel concept of one dimensional full polarization interferometric radiometer (FPIR). Purpose of FPIR is to implement high resolution polarimetric radiome-try without large antenna and complex electricity. The operation principle of FPIR is introduced. Advantages of the polarimetric measurement of FPIR are achieved by squint antenna beam, interlaced dual polarized array, unique polarization switching and shared receivers. An example of the interlaced array and the particular switching sequence is discussed. The development of FPIR demonstrator is presented. Element waveguide antenna of the demonstrator is measured within a ground plane. A breadboard receiver has been built. A special digital correlator, which is compatible with both the analog and digital demodulation, is designed.