Improved range model based on parameter estimation for high resolution and high squint LEO SAR

Abstract

Due to the curve of the LEO synthetic aperture radar (SAR) orbit and the rotation of the earth, the high resolution imaging for LEO SAR is always facing the problem of obtaining accurate range history. Meanwhile, with the increase of squint angle, it will take longer azimuth time to meet the same high resolution. In this paper, an improved hyperbolic range equation (IHRE) is presented to model the accurate range history for high squint LEO SAR. First, the state vectors of satellite are used to estimate the Doppler parameters. Then, the improved hyperbolic range equation is recovered based on the estimation of the Doppler parameters. Compared with other existing methods, the superiority of IHRE is more precise in the condition of high squint LEO SAR which can provide sufficient azimuth time for high resolution imaging. The simulation and analysis validate the precision of the proposed range history model.

Keywords

• geophysical signal processing
• radar imaging
• spaceborne radar
• synthetic aperture radar
• parameter estimation
• remote sensing by radar
• accurate range history
• improved hyperbolic range equation
• high squint LEO SAR
• Doppler parameters
• high resolution imaging
• range history model
• improved range model
• LEO synthetic aperture radar orbit