Temporal sampling of backscattered sonar signals

This article considers the subject of the temporal sampling of backscattered sound from an active sonar system. Here, it is demonstrated how the beam patterns of the sonar, when considered along with the velocity of the animal, prescribe a minimal sampling rate such that an unaliased version of the backscattered signal can be constructed. Thus, an equation is derived which relates a minimum sampling interval to the maximal angular velocity of targets which are moving through the beams. Observation of this minimal temporal sampling criteria is necessary in order to obtain unaliased data.