Analysis of CA-CFAR processors for linear-law detection

A method for evaluating the performance of cell-averaging constant false alarm rate (CA-CFAR) processors which use the amplitude of echo signals rather than their squared amplitude is presented. Results for the case of Rayleigh clutter/noise statistics are given. Detection probabilities are evaluated for the case of a Rayleigh fluctuating target embedded in Rayleigh clutter/noise for linear-law CA-CFAR processors. These results are observed to be practically identical to those of square-law CA-CFAR processors for which analytical expressions are readily available. These observations are verified using Monte Carlo simulations. The same conclusion is reached in the case of a nonfluctuating target embedded in Rayleigh clutter/noise for which only simulation results are presented