An analysis of optimal signal processing in full-polarimetric SAR

Inhalt:
In the paper the PolSAR imaging with simultaneous backscattering matrix estimation (referred as fullpolarimetric SAR) is considered for a general case. The mathematical object of the analysis is the space-time ambiguity matrix (STAM) which, as it shown in the paper, defines the imaging result. The optimal space-time signal processing algorithm for the general case is considered. Factorability analysis of the STAM is carried out. Conditions for imaging ambiguities are analysed. Expressions for potential resolutions of PolSAR imaging are derived from STAM analysis results. As illustrations STAM are derived and analyzed for LFM sounding signals for the case of a linear synthetic antenna and “flat earth”.