Eigenvalue-based distributed target detection in compound-Gaussian clutter

Abstract

Target detection in Gaussian or compound-Gaussian clutter emerges as a particularly pertinent issue for a radar system. When a radar system employs pulsed Doppler processing to identify potential targets amidst such clutter, the target components often undergo fluctuations, which subsequently allows them to be embedded within the covariance matrix of the data under examination. In a recent study, the authors have devised innovative detectors for targets within compound-Gaussian clutter. These detectors leverage the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix, demonstrating superior detection performance compared to existing methods.