Detection Performance of a Suboptimum Processor in Non-Gaussian Noise
Abstract
The performance of a suboptimum processor for three different signal types in three different noise backgrounds has been investigated numerically in terms of the receiver operating characteristics and compared with the performance of the optimum processor in the same environments. The three distributions considered are Gaussian, sech, and fourth power; the sech distribution decays exponentially for large arguments, while the fourth-power distribution decays inversely proportional to the fourth power. Noise with the fourth-power distribution is very heavy-tailed and constitutes a debilitating effect on standard linear processors in weak signal environments. The suboptimum processor consists of a hard limiter followed by an energy detector. In the presence of heavy-tailed noise Interference, this suboptimum processor approach loses on the order of 1 dB In signal detectability relative to the optimum processor. Lack of the detailed signal structure is not a detriment to this processor; furthermore, the information required to realize the absolute optimum processor will not likely be available in practice.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 19, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA423872
Entities
People
- Albert H. Nuttall
Organizations
- Naval Undersea Warfare Center