Correlation performance analysis for waveforms with spectral notches

Performance bounds on range resolution and range sidelobe level are built for waveforms with spectral notches. In this study, the authors use the integrated mainlobe energy (IME) and integrated sidelobe energy (ISE) of the autocorrelation function to assess the performance of range resolution and range sidelobe level, respectively. By considering the minimisation of the weighted sum of IME and ISE under given spectral constraints, they derive the optimal power spectrum density condition and subsequently calculate the best achievable IME and ISE. With this study, the radar system can (i) analyse the trade-off relationship between range resolution and range sidelobe level and thus better balance them in designing the transmit waveform; (ii) assess the fitness of potential working bands and thus select the best one to use.