Holographic Staring Radar

The development of radar has been one of the most successful direct applications of physics ever attempted, and then implemented and applied at large scale. Certain watchwords of radar engineering have underpinned many of the developments of the past 80 years and remain potential avenues for improvement. For example, 'Narrow beams are good', 'Fast detection is good', 'Agility is good', and 'Clutter is bad'. All these statements of merit are true. The underlying principles for all these statements are the laws of physics, and they provide support for current radar designs. However, each of these statements is really a design choice, rather than their necessary consequence.