Parameter estimation of maneuvering targets in OTHR based on sparse time-frequency representation

This paper proposes a new method for estimating the parameter of maneuvering targets based on sparse time-frequency transform in over-the-horizon radar（OTHR）. In this method, the sparse time-frequency distribution of the radar echo is obtained by solving a sparse optimization problem based on the short-time Fourier transform. Then Hough transform is employed to estimate the parameter of the targets. The proposed algorithm has the following advantages： Compared with the Wigner-Hough transform method, the computational complexity of the sparse optimization is low due to the application of fast Fourier transform（FFT）. And the computational cost of Hough transform is also greatly reduced because of the sparsity of the time-frequency distribution. Compared with the high order ambiguity function（HAF） method, the proposed method improves in terms of precision and robustness to noise. Simulation results show that compared with the HAF method, the required SNR and relative mean square error are 8 dB lower and 50 dB lower respectively in the proposed method. While processing the field experiment data, the execution time of Hough transform in the proposed method is only 4% of the Wigner-Hough transform method.

A New Location Precision Model for Multi-Static Over-the-Horizon Radar System

In this paper, a multi-static system working in an active way is made up of ionospheric oblique backscatter sounding system （IOBSS） and two separate receiving stations, which adopts discontinuous wave mechanism. We have advanced a new model that contains skywave condition to locate over-the-horizon targets. We use a single quasi-parabolic （QP） ionosphere model and an analytic ray-tracing program to obtain the coordinate registration （CR） index, which changes skywave group range to ground range. Also, IOBSS and other two receiving stations use this distance information to locate the target which is far away from the system. The analytic expression for the geometric dilution of precision （GDOP） under different station deployments are obtained, which shows GDOP is influenced by the system measurement precision, the stations＇ coordinates, and CR index. By computer simulation, we find that GDOP of isosceles right triangle deployment is smaller than that of line deployment and location precision will be improved with increasing base line length. The results indicate that this model is practicable with an acceptable range of error （less than 500 m under certain conditions in this paper）.

Characteristics of high frequency radio wave propagated in heated ionospheric regions

A two-dimensional Ohm heating theoretic model in the magnetizing ionosphere and a ray-tracing model in a discrete ionosphere background are used to analyze quantitatively the characteristics(mainly the Doppler shift and the phase shift)of the over-the-horizon radar(OTHR)wave,which propagates through the ionospheric region heated by high frequency radio wave.The simulation results about the Doppler and the phase shift are obtained within two minutes after the heater is on.Preliminary conclusions are given by comparing the numerical results with experimental data.