Wideband acousto-optic signal estimation and adaptive filtering

An acoustooptic (AO) signal processor is described that performs wideband signal estimation and adaptive filtering operations based on the linear least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm. An AO cell is utilized as an analog tapped delay line to provide a traveling window of the signal to be processed. The design of the AO processor is described, benefits and limitations are discussed, and applications to wideband signal estimation and multichannel adaptive noise cancellation for phased array antennas are reviewed. The operations are performed coherently, thus maintaining signal magnitude and phase information. The processor has the potential for very wideband operation compatible with signals having on the order of several megahertz of bandwidth