What does the term "incoherent" imply in radar technology?

The term "incoherent" in radar technology refers to systems that do not maintain phase information. Incoherent radar systems primarily rely on the amplitude of the received signals for processing and interpretation, rather than the phase. This means that they do not utilize the phase relationships of the signals, which can limit their ability to precisely determine certain characteristics of the target, such as velocity.

In contrast, coherent radar systems do maintain phase information, which allows for more accurate measurements. This phase information is crucial for applications like Doppler processing, where changes in frequency due to the target's motion are analyzed. Incoherent systems can be simpler and less expensive but may lack some of the advanced capabilities found in coherent systems.

Overall, "incoherent" indicates a fundamental aspect of how the system processes incoming radar signals, specifically its lack of reliance on phase information.