Analytic performance bounds on estimates of scattering center parameters

Cramer-Rao bounds (CRBs) on the estimates of the main scattering center parameters, i.e., the position, intensity and geometry type, are presented in analytic forms. The resolution limit for wideband radar and the SNR threshold for the correct identification of the geometry type parameter of scattering centers are further deduced. Though the results are obtained from the CRB matrix for damped exponentials (DE) after many approximations and simplifications, their validity and adaptability for geometric theory of diffraction (GTD) based scattering center model have been verified both numerically and experimentally.