Losses for Frequency Diversity Waveform Systems

Abstract

The use of a frequency diversity waveform to improve target detectability by reducing the fluctuation loss is a well-established technique. The diversity gain is commonly computed under the assumptions of a matched filter processor and the independent fluctuation of the target from channel to channel. Sometimes these conditions are not met and the full diversity gain cannot be obtained. In order to accurately compute the attainable diversity gain, it is necessary to calculate losses that occur only for diversity waveforms. The losses that have been considered are 1) unknown target velocity loss, 2) dependent samples due to small channel-to-channel frequency spacing, 3) linear envelope detector law loss, and 4) constant false alarm rate (CFAR) lpss.