Rayleigh distance Rayleigh distance Rayleigh distance in optics is the axial distance from a radiating aperture to a point at which the path difference between the axial ray and an edge ray is λ / 4. An approximation of the Rayleigh Distance is formula_1, in which Z is the Rayleigh distance, D is the aperture of radiation, λ the wavelength. This approximation can be derived as follows. Consider a right angled triangle with sides adjacent formula_2, opposite formula_3and hypotenuse formula_4. According to Pythagorean theorem, formula_5. Rearranging, and simplifying formula_6 The constant termformula_7 can be neglected. In antenna applications, the Rayleigh distance is
Continuous-wave radar with the fact that it is coherent means that Fourier integration can be used rather than azimuth integration providing superior signal to noise and a Doppler measurement. Doppler processing allows signal integration between successive receiver samples. This means that the number of samples can be increased to extend the detection range without increasing transmit power. That technique can be used to produce inexpensive stealthy low-power radar. CW performance is similar to Pulse-Doppler radar performance for this reason. Unmodulated continuous wave radar cannot measure distance. Signal amplitude provides the only way to determine which object corresponds with which speed measurement when