Radar detection of signals with

unknown parameters in K-distributed

clutter
Authors: Prof. E. Conte, Prof. M. Longo, M. Lops,
S.L. Ullo

Presented By: BHUWON

Abstract
Detection of signals with unknown parameters
in correlated K-distributed noise
Performance for uncorrelated observations is
unaffected by specific signal pattern

Introduction
Theory of radar detection-clutter is a complex
Gaussian process
In such cases NP test can be implemented
Sometimes Gaussian model is not applicable
Conventional receivers are not suitable for
non-Gaussian interference
The difficulty in detectors for non-Gaussian
stats can be overcome by using spherically
invariant random processes (SIRPs)

The K-APDF and the SIRP clutter model

The K-APDF is given by
f A (r )

4
v
2vr
( 2 ) v 1 r v K v 1
2
(v )

r 0

(1)

where
(.) is Eulerian Function,
Kv is the modified 2nd kind Bessel function of order v,
2 is the common power of quadrature components,
and v is the shape parameter, ranging from 0 to +

The K-APDF and the SIRP clutter model Cont.,

The properties & interpretations of SIRP
Let x(k) = xc(k) + jxq(k), k = ..., -1, 0, 1, ..., be a general
discrete-time complex process
Nth order PDF can be written as

f x ( x) f xc , xq ( xc , xq ) ( 2 ) N

h (|| x || )

(|M|) 2 N

2
M

(2)

where is the mean E[x,] + jE[xq] = c + jq,

M is the 2N-dimensional covariance matrix E[(x,, xq)T(x, ,
xq)],
h2N (.) is a suitable function depending on N

The K-APDF and the SIRP clutter model Cont.,

|| x ||M [((xc c , xq q )M ( xc c , xq q )) ]
1

(3)

is the norm of x - defined by the definite positive matrix M-1.

For white observations

f x ( x) (2 ) N h2 N (|| x || 2 )

(4)

i.e. the norm ||x-|| reduces to usual Euclidean norm

The K-APDF and the SIRP clutter model Cont.,

This type of processes can be considered as product of a
complex Gaussian process g(k) times a real non-negative
modulating variate
x(k)=sg(k)
(5)

Fig. 1 SIRP model for a complex non-Gaussian correlated sequence

Courtesy: Prof. E Conte et al., Radar detection of signals

The K-APDF and the SIRP clutter model Cont.,

The special case of a correlated complex SIRP with K-APDF is a
zero mean process characterized by the Nth order pdf
f x ( x)

[ (2v) || x ||M ]v N
2 v 1 (v) N | M |1 / 2

K v N [ (2v) || x || M ]

and by a generalized-chi f(s), namely

2v v 2v 1 vs2
f ( s)
s e
(v )

s0

(7)

(6)

Detection in K-distributed clutter

Detecting a known signal embedded in an additive
disturbance can be stated using the hypotheses test
H 0 : z c

H 1 : z v c

(8)

where z=zc+jzq , v=vc+jvq and c=cc+jcq are complex

vectors whose components are samples from the
baseband equivalent of the received signal, the
target signal and the clutter, respectively.

Detection in K-distributed clutter Cont.,

The vector c is whitened by transforming the received vector z
through

(rc , rq ) (zc,zq )ED

1/ 2

(9)

where E is the matrix of the eigenvectors of M, and D is the

diagonal matrix of its eigen values
Thus the problem of detecting the complex signal v=vc+jvq in
correlated noise is equivalent to that of detecting its filtered
version u=uc+juq in uncorrelated noise, say n, with

(uc , uq ) ( vc,vq )ED 1/ 2

and leads to hypotheses test

H 0 : r n

H1 : r u n

(10)
(11)

Detection in K-distributed clutter Cont.,

Optimum detection of a completely known
signal in the presence of noise with PDF fn(.) is
accomplished by log-likelihood ratio test(LLRT)
H1
f n (r Aei p)
log
T
f n (r )

H0

(12)

where u=Aejp is used for eliciting the unknown

parameters

Detection in K-distributed clutter Cont.,

The GLLRT for the problem is given by
f n (r Ae i p ) 1
max log
T

f n (r )

H
H

(13)

where is the space of the unknown parameter

This test is equivalent to

H
i
f n (r Ae p) 1
max log
T

f
(
r
)
n

H0

(14)

i.e. it can be obtained from LLRT by replacing the unknown

parameters by ML estimates

Detection of a known signal in K-distributed

noise
The Nth order PDF of the noise is given by
[ (2v) || x ||]v N
f x ( x) v1
Kv N [ (2v) || x ||]
N
2 (v)

Substituting this in equation (12),

H1

g v (|| r u ||) g v (|| r ||)

where

H0

g v ( x) log[ x v N KvN ( (2v) x )]

(17)

(18)

(16)

Detection of a known signal in K-distributed

noise Cont.,

Fig. 2 Optimum coherent detector in K-distributed clutter

Courtesy: Prof. E Conte et al., Radar detection of signals

Detection of a known signal in K-distributed

noise Cont.,
The PDF of test statistic depends on SNR
|| u || 2
A2 || p || 2
SNR

2
E[|| n || ]
2N

(19)

Let us decompose r into its component along

p and into the orthogonal component, namely
rr

r.p
p
p

r
rp
|| p || 2
|| p ||

(20)

Here (.) denotes the dot product b/w complex

row vectors r and p.

Detection of a known signal in K-distributed

noise Cont.,
As r contains noise only, it does not depend
upon the signal under both hypotheses.
We can write
q12 || r || 2 | rp A || p || e j |2
q02 || r || 2 | rp |2

(21)

Conditioned upon || r||2=y, we have, under H0

hypothesis
q12 y | n p A || p || e j |2
H0 : 2
2
q0 y | n p |

(22)

Detection of a known signal in K-distributed

noise Cont.,
Under H1 hypotheses

q12 y | n p |2
H0 : 2
j 2
q0 y | n p A || p || e |

(23)

where np denotes the projection of noise along the

signal
The modulus | np| does not depend upon noise
The joint distribution of q0 and q1 under H0 and H1
and test statistic does not depend on signal pattern
but only on the energy of the signal

Detection of a known signal in K-distributed

noise Cont.,
The distribution of the test statistic is
independent of the phase
The distribution of the test statistic depends
upon the norm under both hypotheses
The receiver reduces to conventional receiver
as v+, the eqn 17, after suitable
normalization and neglecting constants
x2
g ( x)
2

(24)

Detection of unknown phase signals in

K-distributed noise
The detection of known amplitude, unknown
phase wanted-target echo using GLRT is given
||r Ae p||

by
[
]
1
j

max

( , )

log

2N

2s2

f ( s)ds H1

1
2N

||r||2
2s

f ( s)ds

H0

(25)

where H0 is distributed as N(0,s2I) and H1 as

N((uc,uq),s2I)

Detection of unknown phase signals in Kdistributed noise Cont.,

The exponent in the numerator can be written
as
j
2
2
2
2
|| r Ae p || || r || A || p || 2 A | r .p | cos( )

(26)

with the phase of the dot product r.p, the ML

estimate is given by . Substituting in to
eqn(25) leads to test
H1
2

g v ( (|| r || A2 || p || 2 A | r.p |)) g v (|| r ||) T

H0

with gv given in eqn 17

(27)

Detection of unknown phase signals in Kdistributed noise Cont.,

Fig. 3 GLLRT detector for target with unknown parameters in K-distributed noise
Courtesy: Prof. E Conte et al., Radar detection of signals

Detection of unknown phase signals in Kdistributed noise Cont.,

The eqns for q0 and q1 can be written as
q12 || r ||2 | rp A || p || e j |2
|| r ||2 (| rp A || p ||)2
q02 || r ||2 | rp |2

(28)

As v the eqn.27 reduces to

| r.p |

H1

H0

(29)

Detection of unknown amplitude, unknown

phase signals in K-distributed noise
When both A and are unknown parameters
the GLLRT of eqn(13) can be written as

max
( , A )

log

s
0

where =aej

1
s

2N

1
2N

||r p||2

e
[

2s

||r||2
2s2

f ( s )ds

f ( s)ds

H1

H0

(30)

Detection of unknown amplitude, unknown phase signals in Kdistributed noise Cont.,

Resorting to the decomposition of eqn(20) the

norm in the numerator is written as

|| r p || || r || | rp || p |||
2

and attains its maximum value for

rp
r.p

|| p || || p || 2

(33)

which represents the ML estimate of

(32)

Detection of unknown amplitude, unknown phase signals in Kdistributed noise Cont.,

Substituting eqn (33) into (30) and taking log

leads to the test

gv

H1

| r.p |
2

|| r ||

g
(||
r
||)
T

v
2

|| p ||

H0

(34)

Hence the GLRT performs an estimate of the

actual target signal, namely
u p

(35)

Detection of unknown amplitude, unknown phase signals in Kdistributed noise Cont.,

The square distance q12 between the received and

estimated signal can be written as
r.p
2
q || r
p
||

||
r
||

2
|| p ||
2
1

(36)

while the norm q02 (eqn.21) can be written as

q02 || r ||2 | rp |2 q12 | rp |2

(37)

As v the noise converges to Gaussian distribution

and hence eqn.34 reduces
to conventional envelope
H
1
2
|
r
.
p
|
detector

T
(38)
2
|| p ||
H0

Performance Assessment

Courtesy: Prof. E Conte et al., Radar detection of signals

Performance Assessment Cont.,

Courtesy: Prof. E Conte et al., Radar detection of signals

Performance Assessment Cont.,

Courtesy: Prof. E Conte et al., Radar detection of signals

Conclusion
Optimum detection of signals in K-clutter is
feasible if SIRP model for clutter is adopted

References
E. Conte and M. Longo, "Characterization of Radar Clutter as a Spherically
Invariant Random Process," lEE Pmc., vol. 134, Pt. F, April 1987, pp. 191197.
WATTS, S., and WARD, K.D.: Spatial correlation in K-distributed sea
clutter, IEE Proc. F, Commun., Radar & Signal Process.. 1987, 134, (6), pp.
526531.
WATTS, S.: Radar detection prediction in sea clutter using the compound
K-distribution model, IEE Proc. F, Commun., Radar & Signal Process., 1985,
132, (7). pp. 613-620