Wideband joint range-velocity-acceleration ambiguity function of Stepped Frequency Signal

Pulsed Stepped Frequency Waveform (SFW) generally has duration much longer than other wideband signals, as its bandwidth is synthesized by a series of pulses. This feature may invalidate the narrowband assumption, resulting in higher sensitivity of imaging quality to high-order motions as well as velocity. In this case, traditional correlation receiver based on either narrowband or wideband range-velocity ambiguity function may operate ineffectively. Therefore, this paper first establishes the Wideband Joint range-velocity-Acceleration Ambiguity Function (WAAF) of SFW, and then reveals its characteristics of central response and periodical ambiguities, compared with the narrowband ambiguity function. The conclusions provide an insight investigation of the imaging/locating properties of a stepped frequency system, and to some extent, enrich the research on ambiguity function.