Range stacking: An interpolation-free SAR reconstruction algorithm

A method for digital image formation in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems is presented. The proposed approach is based on the wavefront reconstruction theory for SAR imaging systems. However, this is achieved without image formation in the spatial frequency domain of the target function which requires interpolation. The proposed method forms the target function at individual range points within the radar range swath; this is referred to as range stacking. The range stacking reconstruction method is applicable in stripmap and spotlight (broadside and squint) SAR systems. Results using a wide-beamwidth FOliage PENetrating (FOPEN) SAR database are provided, and the effect of beamwidth filtering on the signature of moving targets in the imaging scene is shown.