Fast Backprojection Algorithms Based on Subapertures and Local Polar Coordinates for General Bistatic Airborne SAR Systems

Abstract

This paper introduces a bistatic fast backprojection synthetic aperture radar (SAR) algorithm that is available for different bistatic geometries. The proposed algorithm is tested with the bistatic CARABAS-like data, and the results indicate that the algorithm is a good candidate for bistatic SAR data processing. The image quality measurements are quite similar to the referenced values obtained with the bistatic global backprojection algorithm. That is, the peak sidelobe ratio (PSLR) is -13.7 dB in comparison to the referenced PSLR of -13.8 dB. The half-power beamwidths (HPBWs) measured on the cuts in x and y and the direction where the peak sidelobes locate are 2.8, 3.7, and 3.5 m, respectively, which are approximate to the referenced HPBWs. The small differences in the measured results mainly come from the interpolation step of the algorithm.