STEERING VECTOR AND SIGNAL ESTIMATION FOR UNCALIBRATED POLARIZATION-SENSITIVE ARRAYS

We consider the problem of estimating the steering vectors of an uncal ibrated diversely polarized array. The array elements are assumed to c onsist of several groups. In each group the elements have the same pol arization sensitivity and the same unknown gain pattern, up to an unkn own multiplicative factor. The phases of the elements are arbitrary an d unknown. We identify a cost function whose minimizer is a statistica lly consistent and efficient estimate of the unknown parameters. An it erative algorithm for finding the minimum of that cost function is pre sented. The proposed algorithm is guaranteed to converge. The estimate d steering vectors are used for constructing a matrix whose multiplica tion with the observed data yields an estimate of each of the signals. A comparison of Monte Carlo experiments and theoretical bounds is use d to validate the analysis. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.