Comparative Evaluation of Two Analytical Models for Microwave Scattering from Deciduous Leaves

The generalized Rayleigh-Gans (GRG) approximation is usually used to compute the scattering amplitudes of leaves smaller or comparable to a wavelength, while the physical optics (PO) approach with the resistive sheet approximation is commonly used for leaves larger or comparable to the wavelength. In this paper, the scattering amplitudes of an elliptical leaf are computed using those theoretical scattering models (GRG and PO) at different frequencies. The accuracies of the analytical models for microwave scattering from deciduous leaves are investigated by comparison with the precise estimation by the method of moment (MoM). It was found that both the PO approach and the GRG approximation can be used alternatively for computing the scattering matrices of natural deciduous leaves at P-, L-, C- and X-band frequencies.