Receiver Operating Characteristics of a Passive Millimeter-wave Radiometric Sensor

Abstract

Radiometry, since its inception, has provided low-cost effective devices for the detection of thermal noise power in a given environment due to emission and reflection of thermal radiation. The idea to apply this as a sensor to detect and track targets is more recent. Therefore, in view of applications as a radar sensor, we investigate the theoretical performance of a passive millimeter-wave radiometric receiver expected to work as a seeker in missile-based applications. We show how the main parameters that determine the detection capability of this device are experimentally obtained and well consistent within the aimed application scope.