Range profile extraction in noise radars based on the target characteristics

Abstract

Continuous and pulsed radar systems are frequently used in military and civilian applications. The detection capability of a radar depends on the antenna properties used, the size and material properties of the target to be detected, the noise level of the receiving antenna and the RF line, and the effective output power of the radar, which is one of the most important. The effective output power of radar systems increases in direct proportion to the pulse width, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A high SNR level improves detection performance and measurement accuracy. However, in conventional pulse radar, increasing the pulse length causes a decrease in the range resolution, which is undesirable. Different types of pulse compression are used to achieve high output power and low range resolution. These include frequency modulation and phase modulation. One of the most popular frequency modulations is the pulse compression technique based on linear frequency modulation. In phase modulation, which is another method, the phase of the radar pulse can be generated by different intrapulse modulations such as binary phase modulation, poly-phase modulation, and noise or pseudo-noise modulations. Phase-modulated waveforms are obtained by dividing a pulse into multiple sub-pulses to achieve the required main lobe and side lobe levels. The length of a single sub-pulse obtained defines the radar's range resolution.