Coherent integration in radar refers to a signal processing technique where multiple radar echoes or returns are combined in a coherent manner, meaning that the phase information of the received signals is retained and used to improve the sensitivity of the radar. This method involves summing radar yields over multiple coherent processing intervals, aligning the phases of received signals to strengthen the desired signal and reduce the effects of noise and interference. Coherent integration improves radar sensitivity and detection performance, especially in situations where the received signal-to-noise ratio is low or long-range detection is required.
Non-coherent integration, on the other hand, involves summarizing the power of radar yields without preserving phase information. Instead of aligning the phases of the received signals, noncoherent integration simply sums the signal amplitudes over multiple intervals. This approach is computationally simpler but generally offers an improvement in sensitivity over coherent integration. Non-coherent integration is often used in radar applications where phase information is not critical or where rapid processing is required.
Incoherent integration refers to the process of combining radar yields over multiple intervals without preserving the phase relationship between the received signals. This is a broader term that encompasses both non-coherent integration, where phase information is explicitly ignored, and certain types of coherent integration where phase alignment may not be fully achieved or used. Incoherent integration methods are often used in radar systems to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and improve detection performance, especially in environments where phase coherence is difficult to maintain.
The difference between coherent and incoherent detection lies in how the received radar signals are processed and used to detect targets. Coherent detection involves preserving and using phase information from received signals to improve sensitivity and reduce noise. This method is effective in detecting weak signals and improving the radar’s ability to distinguish closely spaced targets. In contrast, incoherent detection methods do not rely on preserving phase information and instead focus on integrating the power or amplitude of signals received over time intervals. Although simpler in implementation, incoherent detection generally offers lower sensitivity and may be more susceptible to noise and interference compared to coherent detection.
Coherent radar refers to a radar system that uses coherent signal processing techniques, such as coherent integration and coherent detection. These methods involve preserving and using phase information from received radar signals to improve sensitivity, improve range resolution, and achieve better target detection capabilities. Coherent radar systems are often used in applications requiring high performance, such as military surveillance, weather monitoring, and aerospace navigation. In contrast, incoherent radar systems do not rely on phase coherence and instead use non-coherent or partially coherent techniques for signal processing. Incoherent radar systems are generally simpler and more cost effective, but may offer reduced performance in sensitivity and target detection capabilities compared to coherent radar systems.
