Research on synthetic aperture radar imaging characteristics of point targets

Abstract

Point targets such as corner reflectors are the most widely used for synthetic aperture radars (SAR) calibrations because of their high radar cross section (RCS) and wide RCS pattern. Firstly, the coordinate frame and corresponding angles are introduced about the triangular trihedral corner reflector. Then, the relationship between RCS of the trihedral corner reflector and its attitude is simulated to obtain maximum RCS value. Finally, simulative and real SAR image of trihedral corner reflector are given under the same imaging condition. Image quality parameters (resolution, peak and integrated sidelobe ratio, and so on) can be easily derived from the trihedral corner reflector response. Theoretic analysis and experimental results show that correlative research results about trihedral corner reflectors are effective so that they can provide a theoretic support and technical approach for practice applications of corner reflectors.