A novel autofocus algorithm based on maximum total variation criteria for SAR images

Abstract

A novel autofocus algorithm for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) based on total variation is presented in this paper. The method, which starts with a complex phase-degraded SAR image, after the phase errors model is introduced into the range-compressed phase-history domain, carries out phase errors correction by changing the focus till the total variation of the azimuth profile is maximized. Compared with the minimum entropy autofocus algorithm, the autofocus algorithm has less computational complexity and is easier to implement. The simulation and the processing results of the measured data show the validity of the proposed method.