Optimal Resolution of Rectangular Pulses in Noise

Optimal detection of rectangular pulses in noise is considered, subject to a sidelobe constraint which ensures adequate resolution capabilities, and a new sidelobe reduction filter is derived. Tests in the laboratory and on a Westinghouse AN/TPS-27 search radar system em indicate that use of the new filter substantially improves both resolution and clutter performance over such standard techniques as fast time constant (FTC), delay line differentiator (DLD), and pulse length discriminator (PLD).