Monostatic Sonar Performance Using Pulse Compression Waveforms

We compare pulse compression waveforms of different categories in terms of their ambiguity function characteristics and performance in detection and range estimation. How well these characteristics translate into sonar performance in shallow waters is studied via simulations. We select three operating scenarios to compare the performance of these waveforms, namely, short range, long range and detection of multiple targets that are close to each other. Our comparison indicates the relative strengths and weaknesses of these waveforms. The results indicate that some aspects of the relative sonar performance of these waveforms can be gauged from their ambiguity function characteristics, though not always in a straightforward manner. Thus, this gives us a methodology to select suitable waveforms for sonar operation without the need to perform computationally intensive Monte Carlo simulations.