On the probability of intercepting a pulsed signal with periodic equipment

Abstract This paper describes computational procedures to evaluate the probability of intercepting pulsed broadcasts. This is modelled as the calculation of the probability of overlap of two or more periodic functions, with independently and uniformly distributed lags (phase differences). In two dimensions the problem is reduced to a single geometrical calculation which yields precise results, while for higher dimensionality Monte Carlo integration proves superior. We then discuss the effects of “numerically synchronized” parameters and suggest rough estimates of the probability and mean time of interception.