Optimal Design of Pulse Repetition Frequency for SAR Imaging Using the Golden Section Method

Abstract

Pulse repetition frequency (PRF) is an essential parameter in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems, whose selection determines the feasibility of radar imaging directly. In the high-squint SAR imaging of maneuvering platforms, the traditional PRF design method is no longer applicable because of the complex geometry configuration. In response to the problem, an optimal design using the Golden Section Method has been proposed in this paper. After establishing a squint SAR imaging model, the azimuth spectrum of the entire scene is analyzed, and the azimuth bandwidth is obtained by the Golden Section Method. Then, the PRF is designed according to the criteria of spectrum unambiguity and time sequence constraints. Finally, the feasibility and accuracy of the PRF design method are demonstrated by simulation experiments.