The Detection Of Radar Echoes In Noise PDF Download

The radar echo from a moving, non-scintillating point target is assumed to be received in the presence of noise and clutter interference. For best detection of the echo, the radar receiver will include a data processor which maximizes the signal-to-interference power ratio at its output. This report presents the integral equation which determines the weighting function of the optimum data processor. Several general forms of solution are also presented, along with specialized forms of solution which are applicable for appropriately simplified sources of clutter. These solutions show that the optimum processor has no simple relation to either the transmitted waveform or to the clutter dispersion function but, rather is markedly influenced by the relative power levels of the noise and clutter components of the interference. Ultimately, the extent to which clutter can be rejected by a suitably designed signal processor will be limited by the (often neglected) noise level which accompanies the clutter. (Author).