Security screening FDTD simulations of the human body and enclosures in polarimetric radar and comparison with measurements

David Andrews; Eddie J. Blackhurst; Neil A. Salmon

doi:10.1117/12.2642650

7 December 2022 Security screening FDTD simulations of the human body and enclosures in polarimetric radar and comparison with measurements

David Andrews, Eddie J. Blackhurst, Neil A. Salmon

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12274, Emerging Imaging and Sensing Technologies for Security and Defence VII; 122740K (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2642650
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2022, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

Finite-difference time-domain simulations have been made of a security screening polarimetric radar over the band 18 GHz to 26 GHz, comparing the results with a proof-of-concept system operating over the same band. The proof-of-concept radar is presented together with its calibration and measurement set-up. Measurements indicate the cross-polarisation returns from a human subject are approximately 10 % to 25 % of the co-polarisation returns. A simulation model has been built using the openEMS software to simulate the body of a human, using realistic primitive shapes and electrical properties appropriate for these frequencies, indicating cross-polar returns are in the region of 15 % of the co-polar responses, with the duration of the reflections lasting around 2 ns. The comparisons between the measurements and simulations are good and provide a qualitative understanding of what happens when security screening radar radiation impinges on the human body. The simulation is extended to two simple enclosures, a cubic box and a short cylinder having dimensions of 300 mm and wall thicknesses of 5 mm, which could be made of wood, cardboard, paper or plastic. Results indicate the cross-polar reflection ranges from 3% to 75 % of the co-polar and bursts of reflections are commensurate with reflections from the front and back surfaces, these being separated in time by 2 ns.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

David Andrews, Eddie J. Blackhurst, and Neil A. Salmon "Security screening FDTD simulations of the human body and enclosures in polarimetric radar and comparison with measurements", Proc. SPIE 12274, Emerging Imaging and Sensing Technologies for Security and Defence VII, 122740K (7 December 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2642650

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