Fluctuating Target Detection in Fluctuating $K$ -Distributed Clutter

This letter deals with the problem of fluctuating target detection in heavy-tailed K-distributed clutter over a number T of independent coherent intervals, e.g., in the case of a long observation interval (“stare mode”), or that of independent (range) resolution cells as per the track before detect techniques. The generalized likelihood ratio test for the problem at hand is derived, as well as an approximation of it, whose distribution under the null hypothesis is derived. We also show some significant differences as compared to the usual Gaussian case, in particular the influence of T and of the shape parameter of the K distribution.