Signals for optimum bandlimited system interrogation with application to underwater acoustics

Consideration of the bandlimited system interrogation problem together with a reasonable definition of a measurement signal‐to‐noise ratio leads to a figure of merit for interrogation signals. Both time and frequency domain characteristics of the signal are important. Several candidate classes of interrogating signals are described and compared. Stepped frequency chirps are found to combine nearly ideal properties with ease of generation. An illustration of the use of stepped frequency chirps in an underwater acoustic experiment is given.