Efficient Raw Signal Generation Based on Equivalent Scatterer and Subaperture Processing for One-Stationary Bistatic SAR Including Motion Errors

Abstract

This paper presents an efficient raw signal generation method based on equivalent scatterer and subaperture processing for the one-stationary bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR). It considers the moving platform's motion error to generate the precise raw signal for real SAR systems. First, the imaging geometry in elliptical polar coordinates is built, and then, the scene is divided into several equidistant elliptical rings. Based on the equivalent scatterer model, the approximate SAR system transfer function is derived; thus, each pulse's raw signal is calculated by the convolution of the transmitted signal and transfer function, via the fast Fourier transform (FFT). To further improve the simulation speed, the subaperture and subscene processing is used. The transfer function for the same subaperture's pluses is calculated simultaneously by the weighted sum of all subscenes' equivalent scattering coefficient in the same equidistant elliptical ring, which is performed by the nonuniform FFT (NUFFT). This method only involves the FFT, NUFFT, and complex multiplication, which means the easier operation and higher efficiency. The implementation, limitation, and evaluation of the proposed method are discussed. Simulation results are given to prove the correctness and validity of the proposed method.