Direction-of-arrival estimation for wide-band signals using the ESPRIT algorithm

A novel direction-of-arrival estimation algorithm is proposed that applies to wideband emitter signals. A sensor array with a translation invariance structure is assumed, and an extension of the ESPRIT algorithm for narrowband emitter signals is obtained. The emitter signals are modeled as the stationary output of a finite-dimensional linear system driven by white noise. The array response to a unit impulse from a given direction is represented as the impulse response of a linear system. The measured data from the sensor array can then be seen as the output of a multidimensional linear system driven by white noise sources and corrupted by additive noise. The emitter signals and the array output are characterized by the modes of the linear system. The ESPRIT algorithm is applied at the poles of the system, the power of the signals sharing the pole is captured, and the effect of noise is reduced. The algorithm requires no knowledge, storage, or search of the array manifold, as opposed to wideband extensions of the MUSIC algorithm. This results in a computationally efficient algorithm that is insensitive to array perturbations. Simulations are presented comparing the wideband and ESPRIT algorithm to the modal signal subspace method and the coherent signal subspace method