CAVORT: A Radar Pulse Train Optimum Processor for Accelerating Targets

The CAVORT analog radar signal processor for matched filtering of coherent pulse trains from targets displaying significant radial acceleration is described. CAVORT employs a scanning technique to search repeatedly through trial pairs of values for Doppler and Doppler rate. When a target appears, it is detected, and the best-fitting pair of values determined. The principle of operation is illustrated, using photographs of waveforms generated by the equipment. The resuilts of satellite observations are included. It is demonstrated that the experimental CAVORT which integrates half-second segments of signal gives satisfactory estimates of acceleration.