A comparison of various radiometer detection models

Several detectability models for the wideband radiometer have been published which allow easy calculation of the required input signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a given performance level. These models were developed because the exact solutions are intractable and must be evaluated using detection curves or numerical methods. The derivations of six common radiometer models are examined and comparisons for a variety of scenarios are provided. When possible, exact solutions are also compared. Results indicate that these models agree to within 0.5 dB for most cases of interest involving large time-bandwidth signals.