What does radar range resolution depend on?

Radar range resolution is fundamentally determined by pulse width and bandwidth. The resolution of a radar system refers to its ability to distinguish between two closely spaced targets. A narrower pulse width allows for finer time resolution, meaning the radar can accurately differentiate between two targets that are close together in range. This is because a shorter pulse effectively provides a more precise measurement of the time it takes for a transmitted pulse to bounce off a target and return to the radar.

Additionally, the bandwidth of the radar signal is crucial. A wider bandwidth contributes to higher resolution because it increases the ability to distinguish between different frequencies, thereby allowing for better discrimination between targets. Essentially, higher bandwidth implies a larger spectrum of frequencies, which correlates to finer detail being captured in the radar returns.

In contrast, factors such as antenna size, power consumption, and signal frequency, while they all play roles in radar system performance, do not directly determine range resolution in the same way that pulse width and bandwidth do. Antenna size affects the gain and directionality of the radar, power consumption relates to how much energy the radar system uses, and the signal frequency influences propagation characteristics but does not directly impact the resolution capability in the context of range.