A High-Precision RCS Reconstruction Technique Using the RANM-FASTIPM Algorithm Without Scattering Center Estimation

Accurate Radar Cross Section (RCS) reconstruction for non-cooperative targets has historically depended on either prior knowledge or the estimated number of scattering centers (SCs), both of which are vulnerable to errors due to the challenges in accurately pinpointing their exact locations. This paper introduces an innovative technique that bypasses this requirement, achieving high-precision RCS reconstruction through the Reweighted Atomic Norm Minimization with Fast Interior Point Method (RANM-FASTIPM) algorithm. By redefining signal sparsity with a sparse-enhanced atomic norm and employing a smooth log-determinant approximation of the -norm, this method simultaneously determines the number and positions of SCs. Amplitudes are subsequently derived via a least squares approach. Unlike conventional methods, this technique requires no prior information about the number of SCs and delivers superior accuracy, as demonstrated by lower root mean square errors (RMSE) compared to established methods like TLS-ESPRIT and ROOT-MUSIC. Validation is conducted using two complex radar targets - a tank and a ship - highlighting the method's effectiveness.