User:Filmacu/Watson radar power conjecture

Watson Radar Power Conjecture is a conjecture about the range of a maritime radar is affected by pulse length as opposed to its amplitude.

Conjecture
The Watson Conjecture The radar range equation states the maximum theoretical range of a radar system based on the output power and sensitivity of the receiver. It may be modified by taking into account the curvature of the earth. This drastically reduces the range for maritime radars. In order to increase range maritime radars increase the Pulse Repetition Rate (PRF). PRF is in essence how often the magnetron is fired per second. In essence this means that the actual range is affected by the number of pulses that are fired and NOT the amplitude. Convention would have us believe that the amplitude of the pulse should affect the range. Consider a light in a window, we are sitting 1 mile away, the light is switched on for a minute, we are looking at the window and don't see it. If the light is on for two minutes would we see it? No. In order to make if visible at 1 mile we would increase the brightness (or it's amplitude)! In the world of RADAR to increase the range one can lengthen the pulse length. Whilst the total amount of energy has increased the amplitude has not. Watson postulated that the reason range increased as pulse length increased was due to probability, If the pulse length is longer then the probability that an echo will return is increased thus increasing the effective range of the system.