An ISAR Imaging Framework for Large and Complex Targets Using TDSBR

An inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging framework is proposed to process transient scattered echoes into ISAR images. First, the time-domain shooting and bouncing ray (TDSBR) method is developed to simulate the transient scattering echoes. Then, based on the electromagnetic scattering echo expressions, the ISAR imaging formula is derived. In order to improve the imaging efficiency, we use Gaussian modulation pulse to replace the traditional linear frequency modulation pulse and propose an improved matched filtering method. Finally, some ISAR images are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. Besides, by comparing with time-domain physical optics(TDPO) method, we also analyze the effect of multiple scattering contribution calculated by TDSBR on the image emphatically.

Automated summary

An inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging framework is proposed to process transient scattered echoes and generate ISAR images. The TDSBR method is developed to simulate transient scattering echoes and derive the ISAR imaging formula based on electromagnetic scattering echo expressions. By using Gaussian modulation pulse and improving matched filtering method, the imaging efficiency is enhanced. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method are demonstrated with ISAR images, and the impact of multiple scattering contribution calculated by TDSBR on the image is analyzed in comparison with TDPO method.