Radar Equation - Introduction

• The radar equation relates P_r = received power to:
  • parameters of the radar system
  • targets
  • scattering properties
  • target location
• Two types of targets:
  • Point - building, plane, etc
  • distributed - rain, snow

First, let's derive the radar equation for a point target (it's easier than for distributed targets).

• For an isotropic antenna (one that transmits in all directions) transmitting at some power P_t, the power density at the target will be

• With a directional antenna, the power density at the target will be

• How much energy is intercepted by the target?