Forward modeling method for target edges

Theoretical and experimental studies reveal that, in the high-frequency domain, a target's total electromagnetic scattering field can be decomposed into re-radiations from localized "scattering sources," known as scattering centers. Using the Stratton-Chu surface integral formula, it is understood that radiation from non-uniform electromagnetic flow near surface discontinuities and boundaries corresponds to edge diffraction, while radiation from uniform flow on smoothly curved surfaces corresponds to geometric optical reflection. Radar images typically show "bright spots" that correlate with these surface reflections and edge diffraction. To improve the accuracy of radar target scattering characteristic acquisition and to enhance the scattering center model by incorporating edge diffraction mechanisms, it is essential to advance electromagnetic modeling precision and comprehensiveness. This paper introduces an enhanced forward modeling method for scattering centers that integrates edge diffraction mechanisms. Building on the surface scattering mechanism and incremental length diffraction theory, this method first automatically classifies target edges as edge diffraction scattering centers based on geometric models. It then calculates the amplitude, frequency, position, and other attributes of each edge scattering center using the target's geometric parameters and edge diffraction coefficients.The effectiveness and accuracy of this forward edge diffraction modeling method are validated by comparing the reconstructed radar cross section (RCS) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data with simulation results obtained from the Method of Moments (MOM). This method addresses the forward scattering center modeling of target edges and provides critical support for the detection and identification of low-observable targets.