Abstract
The complexity of such problems posed by the required effectiveness of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) as extended target element resolution, and the effect of fluctuations, limiting, and signal quantization on image quality, call for solution by statistical computer modeling. Fundamental algorithms are discussed which describe the process of digital modeling for signals reflected from targets extended over an area and processed by SAR. The signal reflected from each element representing target location contains a mirror and Rayleigh (coherent) component and a noncoherent component, and the relationship between them is determined by the nature of the specific target. The method described obtains results which characterize the output image quality of SAR as a function of the spectral width of signal fluctuations, receiver dynamic range, and the number of quantization levels.