Relativity and Radars

Abstract

This Report discusses the special relativistic and general relativistic effects on electromagnetic propagation for artificial satellite applications. In particular the rigorous special relativistic Doppler shift between the received and transmitted frequencies is derived. The two radars need not be colocated and are assumed not to be in the same inertial reference frame. Numerical estimates of various approximations, second order series approximations, and lowest order post-Newtonian general relativistic terms are all performed. This work was spurred by the observational determination of the (v squared over c squared) term in Millstone Hill Radar observations of LAGEOS.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 11, 1983
Accession Number
ADA133791

Entities

People

  • Laurence G. Taff

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Displacement
  • Doppler Effect
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Shift
  • Observation
  • Observers
  • Path Integrals
  • Physical Theories
  • Radial Velocity
  • Relative Motion
  • Relativity Theory
  • Special Relativity
  • Travel Time

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris