Sensor array processing for random inhomogeneous media

The performances of high-resolution array processing methods are known to degrade in random inhomogeneous media because the amplitude and phase of each wavefront tend to fluctuate and to loose their coherence between array sensors. As a result, in the presence of such a multiplicative noise, the conventional coherent wavefront model becomes inapplicable. Such a type of degradation may be especially strong for large aperture arrays. Below, we develop new high-resolution covariance matching (CM) techniques with an improved robustness against multiplicative noise and related coherence losses. Using a few unrestrictive physics-based assumptions on the environment, we show that reliable algorithms can be developed which take into account possible coherence losses. Computer simulation results and real sonar data processing results are presented. These results demonstrate drastic improvements achieved by our approach as compared with conventional high- resolution array processing techniques.