Radar cross section enhancement using phase conjugated impulse signals

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for enhancing the radar cross section of a target. The present invention is an impulse radar system that implements a method that comprises the following steps. A pilot impulse radar pulse is transmitted at a target. The pilot pulse comprises a plurality of individual pulses having respective distinct frequencies generated by the impulse radar system. A return pulse from the target is received by the impulse radar system and provides information indicative of target scattering centers. The return pulse is used as a calibration signal for generating a phase conjugated pulse. The phase conjugated pulse is then transmitted at the target. Processing a target return signal derived from the transmitted phase conjugated pulse enhances the radar cross section of the target because the waveform of the transmitted phase conjugated pulse is matched to the characteristics of the target. The present invention is adapted to detect low radar cross section targets without encountering the problems and frequency restrictions with conventional radar systems. In a second embodiment of the present invention, when a progressive phase variation is applied to the transmit pulses, the radar cross section contributed by backward travelling wave is made to add in phase in the received direction by processing the received target return pulses while adaptively adjusting the phase sequence of the transmitted pulses. When the appropriate phase sequence is achieved which is such that the transmitted pulses match the scattering centers on the target, then an enhanced return signal is received.