Target Detection Based on Canonical Correlation Technique for Large Array MIMO Radar in Spatially Correlated Noise

A novel target detection algorithm for large array multi-input multi-output (MIMO) radar in spatially correlated noise is proposed in this paper using canonical correlation technique (CCT). In the signal model, two separate sub-arrays are employed as the receive array of a transmit diversity MIMO radar system. Assume that the elementary noise in each sub-array has spatial correlation, and the number of receive elements is large and grows as the same rate with the snapshots. The detection statistics is constructed based on the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) criterion and the sample canonical correlation coefficient between the two subarrays. The expression of decision threshold is derived via the Tracy-Widom distribution of order 2 in random matrix theory. The simulation results show that the detection performance of the proposed algorithm is better than that of the conventional condition number (CN)-based algorithm in the presence of spatially correlated noise and large array.