Fundamental Limit of Absolute Phase Retrieval with Split-Band Interferometry: Application to TerraSAR-X / TanDEM-X and SENTINEL Images

Accurate topographic and deformation measurements from SAR interferometry require to correctly unwrap the phase. However, classical phase unwrapping often fails at connecting different regions separated by low coherence. This results in phase jumps, difficult to correct or even detect without proper ground measurements. One solution consists in using the topographic and deformation phase dependence with the wavelength. Using large bandwidth SAR acquisitions such as TerraSAR-X Spotlight images, we can apply split-band interferometry (SBInSAR) in order to produce different interferograms with slightly different center-frequencies. The absolute topographic phase is then proportional to the slope of individuals split-band interferograms. Previous MCA analysis generally focused on the search of carefully-chosen targets, called frequency-persistent scatterers (PSf). If they exist, these PSfs could be used to estimate the global phase offset of the entire disconnected region. Here, we take another approach and argue that all pixels in each independently-unwrapped region carry useful information on the absolute phase. All this information can finally be used to improve the precision on the absolute phase. In the context of the MUZUBI project, we have applied this idea to TerraSAR-X / TanDEM-X, CSK, and SENTINEL images. We investigated the effect of sensor bandwidth, mean coherence across the region, and region size on the precision of the computed absolute phase. The technique is also compared with the results of the SRTM digital elevation model. In the end, we derived the fundamental limits of applicability of split-band interferometry.