Beamforming using the fractional Fourier transform

We present a new method of beamforming using the fractional Fourier transform (FrFT). This method encompasses the conventional minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) beamforming in the frequency domain or spatial domain as special cases. It is especially useful for applications involving chirp signals such as signal enhancement problems with accelerating sinusoidal sources where the Doppler effect generates chirp signals and a frequency shift and active radar problems where chirp signals are transmitted. Numerical examples demonstrate the potential advantage of the proposed method over the ordinary frequency or spatial domain beamforming for a moving source scenario.