Characterizing geolocation ambiguity responses in synthetic aperture radar: ground moving target indication

Abstract

Single-channel synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can provide high quality, focused images of moving targets by utilizing advanced SAR-GMTI techniques that focus all constant velocity targets into a three-dimensional space indexed by range, cross-range and cross-range velocity. However, an inherent geolocation ambiguity exists in that multiple, distinct moving targets may posses identical range versus time responses relative to a constant velocity collection platform. Although these targets are uniquely located within a four-dimensional space (<i>x</i>-position, <i>y</i>-position, <i>x</i>-velocity, and <i>y</i>-velocity), their responses are focused and mapped to the same three-dimensional position in the SAR-GMTI image cube. Previous research has shown that circular SAR (CSAR) collection geometry is one way to break this ambiguity and creates a four-dimensional detection space. This research determines the target resolution available in the detection space as a function of different collection parameters. A metric is introduced to relate the resolvability of multiple target responses for various parametric combinations, i.e., changes in key collection parameters such as integration time, slant range, look angle, and carrier frequency.