Phase quantized SAR signal processing: Theory and experiments

A complete theory of signal aperture radar (SAR) processing from phase-only data is presented, for both analogue and coded raw signals and reference f unctions. Appropriate processing architectures are presented as well as qua lity indexes to judge performance of the selected coding. The analysis enco mpasses both images and interferometric fringes for interferometry SAR (IFS AR) application. Theoretical results are validated by a large number of exp eriments, comparing the performance of the suggested coding levels, and the ir combinations between raw and reference functions. Experiments are extend ed until the comparison of final digital elevation models.