Initial Mode Design Framework of Sparse Tops SAR System

Compared with traditional synthetic aperture radar (SAR), sparse SAR system can obtain higher swath with reduced pulse repetition frequency (PRF). Terrain observation by progressive scan (TOPS) is a novel and promising mode of wide-swath SAR application. It can achieve the same swath coverage as ScanSAR, but greatly reduces the scalloping. To achieve the high-resolution and wide-swath SAR imaging, this paper introduces a novel mode design framework of sparse TOPS SAR system. Combining the advantages of sparse imaging and TOPS, the proposed mode can obtain wider swath by sparse sampling in azimuth direction without changing other SAR hardware parameters, and simultaneously obtains the high-resolution sparse SAR image. The effect on DTAR from steering angle is also suppressed in this mode.