Over-the-Horizon Radar Detection of Targets via Specular Scatter from Meteor Trails

Abstract

The use of specular scatter from ionized meteor trails for over-the- horizon communications, known as meteor burst communications, has been studied for its applicability to over-the-horizon radar detection of targets. The high propagation losses associated with meteor trails scattering in general require transmitter power-antenna gain products, in excess of 100 dBW, for modest target detection capabilities. Most of the target detection capabilities of meteor trail scattering are available using high-frequency over-the-horizon radar, which generally offers better signal-to-noise ratios and a superior rate of detection. The reradiation pattern of an ionized meteor trail and its unknown orientation combine to introduce extraordinary ambiguities in the target's location with respect to both ground range and azimuthal direction.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 27, 1988
Accession Number
ADA199540

Entities

People

  • Roger O. Pilon

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Detection
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Bands
  • Geometry
  • Meteor Burst Communications
  • Meteors
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Over The Horizon Radar
  • Power Gain
  • Probability
  • Radar
  • Radar Cross Sections
  • Scattering
  • Scattering Cross Sections
  • Security
  • Target Detection

Readers

  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.