Ziv-Zakai bounds for time delay estimation with frequency hopping and multicarrier signals in wideband random channels

We develop Ziv-Zakai bounds (ZZBs) on time delay estimation (TDE) for known frequency hopping or multicarrier waveforms over random wideband (frequency selective) Gaussian channels, with a uniform prior on the delay. The channel model incorporates correlation, for example between subcarriers. A unified signal model is applicable to several cases of interest. The receiver does not have channel state information to estimate the time delay, but does have knowledge of the channel statistics. The ZZB provides a tight bound on the mean square error for Bayesian estimation in wideband random channels, revealing SNR threshold behavior indicating estimator breakdown.