A new source number estimation method based on the beam eigenvalue

Abstract

Most source number estimation methods based on the eigenvalues are decomposed by covariance matrix in MUSIC algorithm. To develop the source number estimation method which has lower signal to noise ratio and is suitable to both correlated and uncorrelated impinging signals, a new source number estimation method called beam eigenvalue method (BEM) is proposed in this paper. Through analyzing the space power spectrum and the correlation of the line array, the covariance matrix is constructed in a new way, which is decided by the line array shape when the signal frequency is given. Both of the theory analysis and the simulation results show that the BEM method can estimate the source number for correlated signals and can be more effective at lower signal to noise ratios than the normal source number estimation methods.

Keywords

source number estimation / DOA estimation / beam eigenvalue / MUSIC