Range correlation effects on phase and amplitude noise

The authors address the problem of characterizing the effects of range correlation and local oscillator amplitude and phase noise on the intermediate-frequency (IF) spectrum of a coherent, continuous wave or pulsed Doppler radar. Since the amplitude and phase noises are stochastic processes, the problem is defined in a stochastic processes context, and a reasonable set of assumptions is imposed to produce a general, straightforward, and easily understood solution. The solution clearly indicates how the natural spectrum of the scatterer, the amplitude and phase noise spectra, and range correlation combine to produce the IF spectrum. A specific example is provided for the case of a pulsed Doppler radar. The results presented indicate that range correlation can have a significant impact on the IF spectrum and thus should be considered in radar analysis and design activities