Gaussian Signal Detection With Product Arrays

The paper specifies the probability density function (PDF) for the detection statistic for a product processor of colinear arrays. The product processor's detection PDF is a scaled product of the detection statistic with modified Bessel functions. Using the PDF, this research compares the product processor's detection performance against a conventional beamforming (CBF) linear array with an equal number of sensors. For the basic detection case of a single known signal in Gaussian noise with a single Gaussian plane wave interferer, receiver operation characteristics curves and mean discriminating information over a range of interferer power illustrate that the product processor's performance is inferior to the CBF detector with an equal number of sensors over all possible interferer locations. The detection performance of a product processor matches or outperforms the CBF detector only for high power interferers in specific locations.