Scan loss in radar refers to the decrease in radar system performance that occurs when the radar antenna scans or detaches from the direction of the target of interest. This loss occurs because the energy of the radar beam spreads over a larger area when the antenna is not directly pointed at the target, resulting in reduced power density on the target.
Scan loss can affect radar detection capabilities, particularly for distant or faint targets, because the effective resistance of the received signal decreases when the antenna is not optimally aligned with the target direction.
Scan loss, in the context of radar, refers specifically to the reduction in resistance or power of the radar signal when the radar antenna scans away from the direction of the target. Radar systems rely on the direction of their transmitted signals toward the target to maximize the strength of the signal returned upon reception.
When the antenna scans to cover a wider area or to track multiple targets, the energy of the radar beam is spread out, resulting in less concentrated energy reaching the target and returning to the radar receiver.
This phenomenon reduces the radar’s sensitivity and ability to accurately detect and measure targets at longer ranges or in harsh environmental conditions.
Losses in radar systems can be classified into several types, including:
- Scanning Loss: reduction in signal resistance when the radar antenna is not directly pointed at the target, leading to a decrease in detection sensitivity.
- Antenna Loss: Losses associated with the antenna itself, including inefficiencies in transmitting and receiving signals, as well as losses due to mismatch or impedance.
- Procedure Loss: Loss of signal strength or resolution during signal processing stages, including noise, interference, and limitations of signal detection algorithms.
Propagation Loss: Attenuation of radar signals as they pass through the atmosphere, affected by factors such as absorption, scattering and refraction.
Environmental Loss: Losses due to weather, terrain and other environmental factors that affect signal propagation and reception.
Radar scanning refers to the systematic movement of a radar antenna to cover a specific area or to track targets in a given region.
Scanning can be performed in various patterns, including circular, sector, or electronic scanning, depending on the design and operational requirements of the radar system. Scanning allows radar systems to collect information from different directions, enabling surveillance, tracking and detection of targets such as aircraft, ships, weather conditions and other objects of interest within the coverage area of the radar.
Radar collapse loss occurs when the Doppler spectrum of the radar signal collapses due to insufficient resolution or signal processing errors.
This phenomenon typically occurs when the radar system does not accurately resolve Doppler frequency shifts of moving targets, resulting in reduced accuracy in determining target speed and motion characteristics. Collapse loss can occur due to limitations in radar hardware, signal processing algorithms, or environmental factors that affect signal coherence and integrity during the transmit and receive phases.
Improvements in radar technology and signal processing techniques aim to minimize collapse loss and improve radar performance in detecting and tracking moving targets with greater accuracy
