Minimum-noise-variance beamformer with an electromagnetic vector sensor

We study the performance of the minimum-noise-variance beamformer employing a single electromagnetic (EM) vector sensor that is capable of measuring the complete electric and magnetic fields induced by EM signals at one point. Two types of signals are considered: one carries a single message, and the other carries two independent messages simultaneously. The state of polarization of the interference under consideration ranges from completely polarized to unpolarized. We first obtain explicit expressions for the signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) in terms of the parameters of the signal, interference, and noise. Then, we discuss some physical implications associated with the SINR expressions. These expressions provide a basis for effective interference suppression as well as generation of dual-message signals of which the two message signals have minimum interference effect on one another. We also analyze the characteristics of the main-lobe and side-lobe of the beampattern of an EM vector sensor and compare them with other types of sensor arrays.