Thinned spectrum radar waveforms

Small phase perturbations applied to a stepped-frequency or linear-frequency-modulated radar waveform have been proposed as a means to generate frequency nulls in the spectrum of the transmitted waveform. By nulling selected frequencies (or thinning) in the spectrum of transmitted pulses, the interference between the transmitted and received signals is reduced, which facilitates the spectral cohabitation of multiple RF users. Preliminary experimental results of two methods of spectral nulling are presented with consideration to in-band and out-of-band interference. Range processing is examined to determine the effects of the phase perturbation on radar operations.