Interpolation Methods with Phase Control for Backprojection of Complex-Valued SAR Data

Abstract

Time-domain backprojection algorithms are widely used in state-of-the-art synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging systems that are designed for applications where motion error compensation is required. These algorithms include an interpolation procedure, under which an unknown SAR range-compressed data parameter is estimated based on complex-valued SAR data samples and backprojected into a defined image plane. However, the phase of complex-valued SAR parameters estimated based on existing interpolators does not contain correct information about the range distance between the SAR imaging system and the given point of space in a defined image plane, which affects the quality of reconstructed SAR scenes. Thus, a phase-control procedure is required. This paper introduces extensions of existing linear, cubic, and sinc interpolation algorithms to interpolate complex-valued SAR data, where the phase of the interpolated SAR data value is controlled through the assigned a priori known range time that is needed for a signal to reach the given point of the defined image plane and return back. The efficiency of the extended algorithms is tested at the Nyquist rate on simulated and real data at THz frequencies and compared with existing algorithms. In comparison to the widely used nearest-neighbor interpolation algorithm, the proposed extended algorithms are beneficial from the lower computational complexity perspective, which is directly related to the offering of smaller memory requirements for SAR image reconstruction at THz frequencies.