Range correlation effects on phase and amplitude noise

Abstract

The authors address the problem of characterizing the effects of range correlation and local oscillator amplitude and phase noise on the intermediate-frequency (IF) spectrum of a coherent, continuous wave or pulsed Doppler radar. Since the amplitude and phase noises are stochastic processes, the problem is defined in a stochastic processes context, and a reasonable set of assumptions is imposed to produce a general, straightforward, and easily understood solution. The solution clearly indicates how the natural spectrum of the scatterer, the amplitude and phase noise spectra, and range correlation combine to produce the IF spectrum. A specific example is provided for the case of a pulsed Doppler radar. The results presented indicate that range correlation can have a significant impact on the IF spectrum and thus should be considered in radar analysis and design activities. >