Capability of array processing algorithms to estimate source bearings

The effect of source coherence on the capabilities of classical, minimum energy (ME), and linear predictive (LP) array processing algorithms to estimate the bearings of two equal-energy sources is examined. Source coherence is shown to adversely affect the resolution and detection capabilities, as well as the bias characteristics, of all three algorithms. For linear arrays of equally-spaced sensors (LES arrays), the superior resolution capability of the LP algorithm is demonstrated. However, the LP algorithm is least capable of detecting highly coherent sources. The estimates of source bearing produced by each algorithm are shown to be asymptotically biased.