Impact of diverse polarisations on clutter statistics

The author addresses the impact of diverse polarisations on clutter statistics in the context of waveform diversity for multi-functional operation from a specific platform as well as for multiple sensing from multiple platforms. A key issue in this context is that of clutter mitigation via the use of diverse waveforms. Classical space-time adaptive processing (STAP) methods for radar target detection can be viewed in the context of a whiten and match filter. To this end, efficient waveforms that lend themselves for such processing are sought. The author specifically considers a statistical analysis of experimental data collected at low grazing angles to validate the fact that vertical transmit-vertical receive (VV) polarised data conform to Rayleigh scatter, whereas horizontal transmit-horizontal receive data do not. Consequently, VV data are suitable for whiten and match processing adopted in conventional radar STAP.