Some considerations for different time-domain signal processing of pulse compression radar

Radar technology has for a long time used various systems that allow detection under high-resolution conditions, while emitting at the same time low peak power. Among these systems, transmitted pulse encoding by means of biphasic codes has been used for the advanced ionospheric sounder that was developed by the AIS-INGV ionosonde. In the receiving process, suitable decoding of the signal must be accomplished. This can be achieved in both the time and the frequency domains. Focusing on the time domain, different approaches are possible. In this study, two of these approaches have been compared, using data acquired by the AIS-INGV and processed by means of software tools (mainly Mathcad©). The analysis reveals the differences under both noiseless and noisy conditions, although this does not allow the conclusive establishment as to which method is better, as each of them has benefits and drawbacks.

Barry, G.H. (1971). A low power vertical incidence ionosonde, IEEE T. Geosci. Elect., 9 (2), 86-89.

Baskaradas Arokiasamy, J., C. Bianchi, U. Sciacca, G. Tutone and E. Zuccheretti (2002). The new INGV digital ionosonde - design report, Rapporti Tecnici INGV, 12, 59 pp.

Bianchi, C., U. Sciacca, A. Zirizzotti, E. Zuccheretti and J.A. Baskaradas (2003). Signal processing techniques for phase-coded HF-VHF radars, Annals of Geophysics, 46 (4), 697-705.

Bianchi, C. and D. Altaldill (2005). Ionospheric Doppler measurements by means of HF-radar techniques, Annals of
Geophysics, 48 (6), 989-993.

Carlson, A.B. (1986). Communication Systems: an Introduction to Signals and Noise in Electrical Communication,
3rd edition, New York, 686 pp.

Curry, G.R. (2005). Radar System Performance Modeling, 2nd edition, Norwood, MA, 400 pp.

Ghebrebrhan, O., H. Luce, M. Yamamoto and S. Fukao (2004). Interference suppression factor characteristics of complementary codes for ST/MST radar applications, Radio Sci., 39, RS3013; doi: 10.1029/2003RS002901.

Golay, M.J.E. (1961). Complementary series, IRE T. Inform. Theor., 7, 82-87.

Ioannidis, G. and D.T. Farley (1972). Incoherent scatter observations at Arecibo using compressed pulses, Radio Sci.,
7, 763-766.

Mohamed, N.J. (1991). Resolution function of nonsinusoidal radar signals. II - Range-velocity resolution with pulse compression techniques, IEEE T. Electromagn. C., 33, 51-58.

Patro, Y.K.G., K.R. Suresh Nair and P. Balamuralidhar (1990). Effect of signal-path distortions on the decoding performance in a pulse compression radar system, Radio Sci., 25, 1095-1100.

Poole, A.W.V. (1985). Advanced sounding: the FMCW alternative, Radio Sci., 20, 1609-1616.

Rastogi, P.K. (1990). Signal processing and data analysis in middle atmosphere radar, Radio Sci., 25, 1071-1086.

Skolnik, M.I. (1980). Introduction to Radar Systems, 2nd edition, New York, 581 pp.

Skolnik, M.I. (1990). Radar Handbook, 2nd edition, New York.

Sultzer, M.P. and R.F. Woodman (1984). Quasi-complementary codes: a new technique for radar sounding, Radio Sci., 19, 337-344.

Tomasi, W. (1996). Sistemas de Comunicaciones Electrónicas, Ed. Prentice Hall, Mexico, 858 pp.

Zingales, G. (1992). Misure Elettriche: Metodi e Strumenti, Torino, 504 pp.

Zuccheretti, E., G. Tutone, U. Sciacca, C. Bianchi, J.A. Baskaradas (2003). The new AIS-INGV digital ionosonde, Annals of Geophysics, 46 (4), 647-659.