An electromagnetic model, based on the generalized-K (GK) speckle distribution, has been developed to read the scattering features associated with metallic objects at sea in full resolution single-look complex (SLC) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. The sensitivity of the GK parameters is investigated in both copolarized and cross-polarized SAR data. It is shown that a proper combination of GK parameters exhibits a completely different behavior with respect to sea surface with and without metallic objects, when measured over cross-polarized SAR data. As a matter of fact, a simple and very effective approach to observe metallic objects in full resolution SLC cross-polarized SAR data, is proposed. Experiments undertaken over a large data set consisting of RADARSAT-2 SLC fine quad polarization SAR data, confirm model predictions, and show that the proposed approach is both physically-based and operationally effective, since it is able to provide a logical true and false output.

In this paper, it is shown how a large mode-stirred reverberating chamber can be used to physically generate a set of non-line-of-sight propagation channels, which are naturally and objectively classified by means of the bit error rate (BER) norm. The experiments are accomplished at the mode-stirred reverberating chamber of the Universita di Napoli Parthenope (formerly Istituto Universitario Navale), and the electromagnetic input signal is a global system for mobile communications, one at 1.8 GHz. It is shown that it is possible to change the BER by means of the stirring process and/or the chamber loading. The proposed technique calls for fast measurements, and therefore, it is amenable to industrial use. The methodology is general and suitable to any digital electromagnetic signal, provided no distortion of modulation occurs.

A new physically based speckle model for marine single-look complex (SLC) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is here presented and investigated. The model allows using full-resolution SAR images instead of multilook SAR images, in which, at the expense of a coarser spatial resolution, the speckle is mitigated. The model is based on the three-parameters generalized-K (GK) probability density function (pdf). GK pdf is a suitable physically-based speckle model for marine SAR images ensuring a continuous and physically consistent transition among different scattering scenarios. This speckle model embodies Rayleigh, K, and Rice scattering scenes which are typical of marine scenes. The use of the three parameters, related to the GK pdf ones, is able to highlight the presence of both low backscattering areas and areas in which a small dominant scatterer is present. This is operationally interesting in SAR oil spill detection procedures.

The reverberating chamber (RC) is employed to physically emulate line-of-sight (LOS) propagation channels and to test the quality of a digital transmission. Use of different absorber configurations is able to generate various LOS propagation channels. The LOS channels are objectively characterized by the Rician K factor and results show that K is not generally dependent only on the number of absorbers but also on their configuration. Experiments are accomplished at the electrically large mode-stirred RC of the Universita di Napoli Parthenope, formerly Istituto Universitario Navale (IUN) and a global system for mobile communications (GSM) digital signal is used.

In this communication, a new methodology on the control of the mode-stirred reverberating chamber (RC) coherence time is accomplished. This communication shows how it is possible to evaluate the RC coherence time values with the method of the normalized autocorrelation function (ACF). The coherence time values obtained from measured data via the ACF have been used in a channel simulator and then the computed constellation has been compared with measurements for a global system for mobile communication (GSM) signal. A visual inspection of the constellation as well as the comparison of measured and computed modulation error rate (MER) and bit error rate (BER) values have been done. The methodology is general and actually applicable to a large class of electromagnetic digital input signals, once that no error of modulation occurs and the channel does not cause distortion in the received signal.

A new empirical model for the Doppler spectrum of the received field obtained in a reverberating chamber (RC) when the continuous mechanical stirring is employed, is proposed. The characterisation of the Doppler spectrum is 2‐fold: on the one side, it allows synthesising an electromagnetic field with desired characteristics within the chamber; on the other side, if the RC is used as a wireless emulator, any wireless propagation environments can be properly emulated within the chamber. The model is successfully tested on an extensive set of measurements accomplished at the RC of the Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, formerly Istituto Universitario Navale (IUN). Results, confirm the effectiveness of the prosed method.