Radar Design Principles

Fred E. Nathanson, J. Patrick Reilly, Marvin N. Cohen9781891121098, 1-891121-09-X

A true classic in the field, now available once again from SciTech, this widely-respected sourcebook on radar design offers coverage of digital technology, weather radar, microburst detection, and digital correlators. Providing a broad look at modern theory as well as a review of all the developments in practical equipment design and construction in recent years, this resource includes four chapters on equations and detection theory, plus seven on waveforms and signal processing. Other chapters include essential data on radar targets and propagation. Throughout, the emphasis is on radar design to cope with the “total environment,” including unwanted reflections from sea, land, precipitation, chaff, thermal noise, and jamming, rather than any single performance goal. The authors also recognize that mapping, weather-sensing, terrain avoidance, altimetry, etc., may be designed for a single-function radar or as modes of a multifunction radar. The last chapter in the book identifies newer, more specialized radar techniques, and describes how to analyze or simulate coherent radars including the limitations and related loss terms. Key Features RADAR TARGETS Detailed treatment of scattering from simple shapes, polarization properties, radar cross-section distributions, and frequency agility effects. PROPAGATION, ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS, WEATHER AND CHAFF – Includes coverage of signal attenuation in the atmosphere, in precipitation and in foliage, backscatter coefficients, uniformity, and spectrum, refraction, and properties of chaff. SEA AND LAND SCATTERING Greatly expanded treatment of backscattering from the sea at various angles and frequencies, the properties of sea “spikes,” the effects of ducting conditions, and terrain types and their reflectivity.