A correlation model for vector sensor arrays in underwater communication systems

A vector sensor measures the scalar and vector components of the acoustic field. Depending on the angle of arrivals and other channel characteristics, different types of correlation appear in a vector sensor array. These correlations affect the performance of a vector sensor communication system. In this paper a new statistical-geometrical framework is developed that provides parametric correlation formulas. These signal correlation expressions are useful for the design and performance analysis of vector sensor communication systems and signal processing algorithms. They can also be useful for estimating some important parameters of the channel such as angle spreads and angle of arrivals. Comparison of the proposed correlation model with experimental data illustrates the usefulness of the model.