Narrowband source localization in an unknown reverberant environment usingwavefield sparse decomposition

We propose a method for narrowband localization of sources in an unknown reverberant field. A sparse model for the wavefield is introduced, derived from the physical equations. We compare two localization algorithms that take advantage on the structured sparsity naturally present into the model: a greedy iterative scheme, and an ℓ₁ minimization method. Both methods are validated in 2D on numerical simulations, and on experimental data with a chaotic-shaped plate. These results, robust with respect to the specific sampling of the field and to noise, show that this approach may be an interesting alternative to traditional approaches of source localization, when a large number of narrowband sensors are deployed.