On the multilook images of moving targets by synthetic aperture radars

In the multilook processing of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, subapertures are synthesized at different center times so that a time-lapse exists between looks. This does not affect the imaging of stationary targets but if targets are in motion, the information content about the targets differs from look to look. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of motions on the SAR multilook images of moving targets. Expressions are derived for the impulse response function from a moving point target in terms of the look number and the nature of the motion. Discussions are given only on the effects inherent to multilook processing.