Radar imaging with EISCAT 3D

Abstract. A new incoherent scatter radar called EISCAT 3D is being constructed in northern Scandinavia. It will have the capability to produce volumetric images of ionospheric plasma parameters using aperture synthesis imaging. This study uses current design explore theoretical imaging performance when electron density E region and compares numerical techniques that could be used practice. Of all algorithms surveyed, singular value decomposition with regularization gave best results was also found most computationally efficient. The estimated indicates capable detecting features down approximately 90×90 m at a height 100 km, which corresponds ?0.05? angular resolution. temporal resolution dependent on signal-to-noise ratio range calculations indicate high-resolution auroral precipitation feasible. For example, 1500 m, time 10 s, an 2×1011m-3, correlation function estimates for from can measured uncertainty 5 %. At s image relative estimation error standard deviation intensity Dividing transmitting array into multiple independent transmitters obtain multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) interferometer system studied, this technique increase through improved visibility coverage. Although reduces ratio, MIMO has successfully been applied strong echoes as meteors polar mesospheric summer echoes. Use radars (ISRs) should investigated further.