Calibration of a Polarimetric MIMO Array With Horn Elements for Near-Field Measurement

Polarimetric multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) radar is capable of acquiring target's high-resolution images and polarization scattering matrix (PSM). In this article, calibration of a polarimetric MIMO array of an instrumentation radar for near-field measurement is achieved at X-band by using a rotatable double-antenna polarimetric active radar calibrator (RODAPARC) and a metal cylinder quickly and accurately. The theoretical PSM of the RODAPARC with different antenna rotation angles is derived from Huygens' radiation electric field which is applicable to different bistatic angles. A polarimetric signal model is adopted to reduce the impact of the RODAPARC on calibration. Experimental studies are conducted on a polarimetric MIMO array which is measured and divided into quasi-monostatic and bistatic transceiver channels for assessment on the calibration performance. Promising calibration results are obtained with a polarization isolation improvement of about 16 dB and great reduction of the polarization channel gain error less than ±0.5 dB in amplitude and ±3° in phase. The calibrated polarization signatures for classic objects are consistent with the theoretical results.