Characterization of Zero-Doppler Clutter Removal Techniques for ISAR Applications

Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) processing is used to generate high-resolution images. This work considers an outdoor test range whereby the ISAR processing induces zero-Hz Doppler clutter (ZDC) effects which adversely impact image quality by either (1) masking actual target responses, or (2) inducing responses not directly attributable to target features. Techniques for removing adverse ZDC effects have been developed and are generally user dependant and/or target specific. This work aims to identify key ZDC reduction mechanisms and characterization metrics to be exploited for more generic applications. Two characterization techniques are considered: pixel-average percentage difference and image cross-correlation of pre-ZDC and post-ZDC processed data. The impact of data windowing is also investigated using various window widths and types.