Ambiguity functions of laser-based chaotic radar

Abstract

The ambiguity functions of a newly developed laser-based chaotic radar (CRADAR) system are studied. In the CRADAR system, the chaotic waveforms can be generated either by an optically injected (OI) semiconductor laser, or a semiconductor laser with optoelectronic feedback (OEF). The ambiguity functions of the chaotic pulsation and chaotic oscillation waveforms obtained experimentally from the CRADAR system with the respective OEF and the OI schemes are examined and compared. In the cross-ambiguity functions, both types of the chaotic waveforms demonstrate their excellent capabilities in the electrical counter-countermeasures (ECCM) that civilian and military applications desire. In the auto-ambiguity functions, the chaotic oscillation waveform shows better unambiguous detection quality than the chaotic pulsation waveform that an ideal thumbtack-like ambiguity function with minimal sidelobes is found. Moreover, variations in the peak value and the full width at half-maximum of the auto-ambiguity function of the chaotic oscillation waveform along the principal axes are also investigated. By having the features of both ultrawideband radar and random signal radar, the chaotic oscillation waveform of the CRADAR system with the OI scheme is shown to possess the advantages of high range resolution, excellent ECCM capability, ideal thumbtack-like ambiguity function, and uncoupled range and range rate resolution functions.