A Method for Optimising Radar Signal Waveforms for Clutter Rejection

Abstract

In the case of radar targets embedded in a strong 2-dimensional clutter field in the range-Doppler space, the clutter rejection property of rectangular pulse bursts, expressed as the signal-to-interference power ratio, is known to depend on the parameters of the pulse train and the probability density of clutter in the range-Doppler field. In this paper a systematic quantitative study is made of the effect of signal parameters like pulse spacing and pulse train length on the signal-to-interference ratio. The processing of the range-and-Doppler-shifted signal in the matched filter receiver is simulated on a digital computer to obtain the ambiguity function for any given pulse train. The volume under the ambiguity function weighted by the clutter probability density yields the signal-to-interference ratio. This ratio has been computed for trains of 2 to 10 pulses with varying pulse spacing for four different types of clutter distribution and the results are presented in this paper. This analysis provides valuable insight into the behaviour of pulse trains in dense target situations. This method can be a valuable tool for the design of signal waveforms for optimum clutter rejection.