Optimal and conventional array processing

Optimal and conventional (beam-form-square-integrate) detectors using a linear array are compared to identify those noise fields for which the optimal spatial processor performs significantly better than the conventional detector. Conditions are also derived under which the conventional processor performs nearly optimally. Particular noise fields are identified as good or bad candidates for the use of optimal techniques by the use of a set of simple criteria stated in terms of parameters such as noise power, noise spatial spectral bandwidth, array beamwidth, etc.