Experimental demonstration of high-resolution ultra-wideband impulse radar based on electrical–optical hybrid pulse generation

Abstract

A high-resolution ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse radar has been developed in order to realise high-resolution object imaging in a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for landmine detection. The UWB impulse radar is based on an electrical–optical hybrid pulse generation scheme such that a clean, short pulse train with small, short ringing can be generated. The generated UWB impulse train has a pulse duration of approximately 200 ps and a repetition rate of less than 1 GHz. Its estimated equivalent isotropically radiated power was well matched with a spectral mask for GPRs, as defined by the Federal Communications Commission of the USA. From an experimental demonstration, it was observed that the developed high-resolution UWB impulse radar was able to resolve a relative positional change of an object with a resolution of less than 10 mm, resulting in accurate imaging of a complex three-dimensional object.