How does Pulse Compression improve radar performance?

Pulse Compression enhances radar performance primarily by allowing longer pulse durations while maintaining resolution. In radar systems, the length of the transmitted pulse is directly related to its energy and ability to detect targets at greater distances. Longer pulses carry more energy, which can improve the radar's sensitivity and range. However, one challenge with longer pulses is that they inherently reduce the resolution of the radar, meaning it becomes more difficult to distinguish between closely spaced targets.

Pulse Compression is a technique that cleverly addresses this challenge. It starts with the transmission of longer, energy-rich pulses, which helps to improve detection capabilities. After these pulses are received, the signal undergoes a process that effectively shortens them in terms of time, thereby compressing them. This compression results in finer resolution without sacrificing the benefits of the longer pulse duration.

This enables the radar system to detect smaller objects or resolve closely spaced targets more effectively while still benefiting from the increased radar energy associated with longer pulse lengths. Thus, the technique combines the advantages of both long and short pulses, yielding superior performance in target detection and resolution.