Signal detection performance of lattice processors

Frequency domain techniques for pulsed Doppler radar data for target detection has received significant attention in the last few Years, and techniques employing FFT and Maximum Entropy methods (MEM) are much in favour. Some recent work [1,2] directed at comparing FFT techniques with MEM seem to indicate anomalies in the use of high resolution spectral estimation for target detection. Most of these techniques employ a blind decomposition of phase detected radar returns into frequency components, and make assessments based on computer simulations. This paper presents new results in the use of lattice processors for detecting signals in noise. A new approach to processing Doppler returns is proposed which involves the application of thresholds to the reflection coefficients in the lattice processor. A study of the underlying probability distribution of the reflection coefficients is included, which allows an optimal choice of threshold setting for a given false alarm rate, and probability of detection.