Performance analysis of quantum-enabled radar systems through modelling and experimentation

Kannanthara, Jithin ORCID: 0000-0002-6156-1181 (2023). Performance analysis of quantum-enabled radar systems through modelling and experimentation. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

Preview

Kannanthara2023PhD.pdf
Text - Accepted Version
Available under License All rights reserved.
Download (10MB) | Preview

Abstract

This thesis presents the first realisation of a quantum-enabled radar in simulation. The thesis is focused on the fundamental limitations of conventional oscillator phase noise in the performance of radar systems and the development of a quantum-enabled radar (with ultra-low phase noise quantum oscillators) in the simulation. A radar model was developed and validated with the results from a commercially available L-band staring radar at the University of Birmingham to study the effects of oscillator phase noise and the performance capabilities of quantum-enabled radar systems. The whole radar model represents the behaviour of all the fundamental hardware building blocks with reasonable simplifications. The phase noise spectrum of the microwave generator unit locked to its cavity-stabilised internal laser, referred to as one manifestation of the quantum oscillator, is shown to have values at least 20 dB lower for every offset frequency in comparison to the L-band staring radar at the transmit frequency.

The conventional oscillator phase noise of the L-band staring radar is shown to manifest as clutter-induced phase noise floor in the range-Doppler plots, with the phase noise floor at least 25 dB above the thermal noise floor, limiting the SNR available for target detection. In range-Doppler plots, the thermal noise floor is the uniform noise floor present in all the range bins, whereas the phase noise floor is the extra noise floor present in range bins with higher clutter power. In comparison to the conventional radar phase noise floor, the quantum-enabled radar simulations show around 20 dB reduction in the phase noise floor in range bins with high levels of clutter in the simulation environment. The detection plots show the successful detection of low RCS targets with quantum-enabled radar that fail to get detected in the classical radar for the same simulation environment. The quantum-enabled radar with ultra-low phase noise quantum oscillators makes it a promising system capable of detecting slow-moving very-low RCS targets even in extreme clutter.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):