CNES general-purpose SAR correlator

Abstract

CNES has designed a new SAR correlator to process both airborne and spaceborne data. This correlator allows data presumming prior to their radar processing. The migration compensation is performed in the range frequency/azimuth frequency domain and a constant phase reference is kept for further interferometric applications. The correlator offers great flexibility for the output geometry and formats: standard single-look complex product, any kind of multilooking, and a quick-look. Some image quality functions are included: raw data correction through look-up tables, a contrast seeker, and a radiometric equalization map. The architecture of the correlator is based on only two computer intensive functions: the fast-Fourier transform and a polynomial law generator. As a result, the software has good portability and good efficiency. Proved performances concerning various spaceborne or airborne sensors are given.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>