Wavenumber support regions for arbitrary arrays

Abstract

We set out a procedure for defining the region of wavenumber support relevant for maximum entropy spectral estimation of a noise field incident on a planar array. We consider first linear, nonequispaced arrays, and argue that the problem of defining a region of wavenumber support is only well-posed when either position uncertainty for the array elements is postulated, or phase uncertainty in the measurement of the signals at the array elements is postulated, or one acknowledges that a polar diagram that is almost periodic defines an aliasing frequency in virtually the same way as a polar diagram which is periodic. For planar arrays, the region of wavenumber support can be approximately circular but in general has to be defined with reference to the particular array. Show more