A novel imaging algorithm for airborne bistatic squint SAR with unparallel trajectories

Abstract

A novel analytical imaging algorithm is proposed for the strip-map mode of airborne bistatic squint SAR with unparallel trajectories. The algorithm derives the two-dimensional (2D) spectrum formula of the point target echo by using the contribution ratios of Doppler frequency modulation ratios of the transmitter and receiver as the weighting coefficients. Through decoupling the target position against the tracks of the transmitter and receiver, the range parameter and the azimuth one in the spectrum formula are separated. In 2D frequency domain, 2D Chirp-Z transform (2D-CZT) is applied to correcting the migrations of the echo along the range and azimuth after the bistatic deformation term has been compensated, so the target image is precisely focused. The advantage of the algorithm is easy to be expanded to the virtual wide swath by blocking the radar data along the range and azimuth to limit the 2D residual migrations. Simulation results confirm the validity of the 2D-CZT algorithm. © 2012 Chinese Journal of Aeronautics.