A New MIMO Clutter Model for Cognitive Radar

A new multi-input multi-output (MIMO) space-time clutter model is introduced to support the sense-learn-adapt (SLA) function of cognitive fully adaptive radar (CoFAR). Unlike traditional signal-dependent stochastic models, a new "stochastic transfer function" approach is presented that results from a fundamental physics scattering model. A key advantage of this new approach is that the transfer function is signal independent (i.e., transmit signal independent). This approach facilitates the joint optimization of the transmit space-time waveforms and receiver functions-a problem which is generally nonlinear for all but the simplest clutter models using traditional approaches.