title: Microwave measurements of the full amplitude scattering matrix of a complex aggregate: a database for the assessment of light scattering codes.
abstract: We present an extensive experimental study of microwave scattering by a fully characterized complex aggregate. We measured the full amplitude scattering matrix (amplitude and phase of the four elements) for a wide range of configurations. The presented results are of special interest to the light scattering community. Our experiments offer the possibility to validate numerical methods against experiments, since the geometrical and dielectric properties of the complex target are known to a high degree of precision, a situation difficult to attain in the optical regime. We analyze in detail the behaviour of amplitude and phase as a function of the scattering angle and target orientation. Furthermore, we compare different computational methods for a specific experimental configuration.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, CNRS, INSA-Lyon, UCBL, CETHIL, UMR5008, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Merchiers
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eyraud
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Geffrin
authors.forename: Rodolphe
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaillon
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stout
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sabouroux
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lacroix