Some Statistical Properties Of The Ground Diffraction Patterns Of Vertically Reflected Radio Waves

Abstract

This paper describes the results of a vertical incidence fading amplitude experiment vising an array of seven receiving aerials. The purpose of the experiment was to test certain assumptions in the correlation analysis of Briggset al. (1950) and Phillips and Spencer (1955) and to obtain more detailed information on the spatial structure of the ground diffraction pattern. The results show that in general the spatial and temporal correlation functions have different shapes (the difference increasing when the random velocity component Vc is large) and that patterns are often periodic or complex. The values of the various parameters derived from correlation analysis are shown not to be independent of the aerial separation. It is suggested however that short base-line experiments usually give meaningful results.