Optimum frequency for subsurface-imaging synthetic-aperture radar
A subsurface-imaging synthetic-aperture radar (SISAR) has potential for application in areas as diverse as non-proliferation programs for nuclear weapons to environmental monitoring. However, most conventional synthetic-aperture radars operate at higher microwave frequencies which do not significantly penetrate below the soil surface. This study attempts to provide a basis for determining optimum frequencies and frequency ranges which will allow synthetic-aperture imaging of buried targets. Since the radar return from a buried object must compete with the return from surface clutter, the signal-to-clutter ratio is an appropriate measure of performance for a SISAR. A parameter-based modeling approach is used to model the complex dielectric constant of the soil from measured data obtained from the literature. Theoretical random-surface scattering models, based on statistical solutions to Maxwell's equations, are used to model the clutter. These models are combined to estimate the signal-to-clutter ratio for canonical targets buried in several soil configurations. Initial results indicate that the HF spectrum (3--30 MHz), although it could be used to detect certain targets under some conditions, has limited practical value for use with SISAR, while the upper vhf through uhf spectrum ([approximately]100 MHz--1 GHz) shows the most promise for a general purpose SISAR system. Recommendations are included for additional research.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6128545
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-93-0815; ON: DE93016846
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
42 ENGINEERING
420200* -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
IMAGE PROCESSING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
OPTIMIZATION
PERFORMANCE
PROCESSING
PROLIFERATION
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
SUBSURFACE STRUCTURES
SYNTHETIC-APERTURE RADAR
WEAPONS