Preserving exponentials in synthetic aperture radar data

Abstract

Examines the conditions necessary to preserve damped exponentials in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) phase histories. A small number of 2D damped exponentials can model SAR data when the radar return is due to a few point scatterers. Error in parametric estimation of the exponential parameters results from the method of data collection, spotlight SAR or radar chamber measurement. This error is quantified and compared to the estimation bound (Cramer-Rao). Methods to reduce this error and preserve true point scatterer locations are successfully applied. Also, a fast method of focusing SAR data to the point scatterer locations is developed.