Experimental results of polarimetric detection schemes for DVB‐T‐based passive radar

Abstract

This study investigates the potential advantages conveyed by the exploitation of polarimetric diversity in Passive Coherent Location (PCL) system exploiting Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB‐T) signals. To this purpose, different polarimetric detection schemes are considered that jointly exploit the signals collected at different receiving channels characterised by differently polarised antennas. A performance analysis has been carried out using experimental data collected by a passive radar system developed by Fraunhofer, namely PARASOL. This PCL system employs two orthogonal linearly polarised receiving channels (horizontal and vertical). The results obtained against cooperative targets demonstrate that a Polarimetric Generalised Likelihood Ratio Test (P‐GLRT) detection scheme provides a remarkable improvement in terms of target detection capability as compared to the single‐polarisation operation and the non‐coherent integration of the results obtained at the available polarimetric channels.