On Signal Models for MIMO Radar

A detailed model for the signal received by a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar from point scatterers is derived and compared with a simplified model frequently used in the literature. The simplified model assumes discretization of the scatterer delays and Dopplers and a particular way of handling the out-of-bin radar returns. It is argued that these assumptions may cause results derived from the simplified model to deviate, possibly significantly, from corresponding results observed in a real radar.