Constant-False-Alarm-Rate Signal Processors for Several Types of Interference

Distribution-free methods and maximum-likelihood estimation technique have been previously suggested for constant-false-alarm-rate (CFAR) processors. The first technique assumes no a priori environmental knowledge and the second assumes almost complete environmental knowledge. Several intermediate environmental assumptions are considered. The performance of single-pulse transmission signal processors that produce CFAR for the different environments is analyzed. Probability of target detection is evaluated for Rayleigh interference and Swerling I target. It is shown that adaptive threshold techniques implemented by logarithmic amplifiers, instead of linear amplifiers, can attain better false-alarm-rate control with only small loss in target detectability.