ABSTRACT
In Part I of this chapter, target detection is introduced in the context of single pulse detection with completely known (i.e., deterministic) amplitude and phase in one case, and known amplitude with random phase in another. The underlying assumption is that radar targets are made of non-varying (non-fluctuating) scatterers. However, in practice that it is rarely the case. First, one would expect the radar to receive multiple returns (pulses) from any given target in its field of view. Furthermore, real-world targets will fluctuate over the duration of a single pulse or from pulse to pulse. Accordingly, the second part of this chapter extends the analysis to account for target fluctuation as well as for target detection where multiple returned pulses are taken into consideration. Multiple returned pulses can be integrated (combined) coherently or non-coherently. The process of combining radar returns from many pulses is called radar pulse integration. Pulse integration can be performed on the quadrature components prior to the envelope detector. This is called coherent integration or pre-detection integration. Coherent integration preserves the phase relationship between the received pulses. Thus, a buildup in the signal amplitude is expected. Alternatively, pulse integration performed after the envelope detector (where the phase relation is lost) is called non-coherent or post-detection integration, and a buildup in the signal amplitude is guarantee
