Minimax detection for signals with unknown parameters

Minimax detectors are often used for the detection of signals with unknown parameters in additive white Gaussian noise. Several minimax strategies are discussed for both real and complex signals, including one based on the least favorable distribution of the unknown parameters and a second, distribution-free method based on the worst case parameter values. Also discussed are the relationships between these minimax detectors and equal correlation filters for real signals and equal deflection quadratic detectors for complex signals. Conditions are given under which the two different minimax strategies produce identical detectors.