Burst-mode and ScanSAR systems record only short pieces of Doppler his
tories; the energy contained in each echo ensemble and, hence, the int
ensity in the final burst image (look) depends on the scatterer's posi
tion relative to the time of the burst event according to the azimuth
antenna pattern, an effect known as scalloping. Most systems employ a
burst period short enough that adjacent looks overlap allowing for ind
ividual weighting of the looks before summation.The paper introduces a
new class of look weighting functions for burst-mode and ScanSAR proc
essing that correct for scalloping while simultaneously keeping the S/
N ratio constant over azimuth and maximizing the equivalent number of
looks. The achievable radiometric resolution and the sensitivity to Do
ppler centroid estimation errors are discussed. A 3-look example using
ASAR parameters illustrates the proposed weighting functions.