Optimum Processing of Antenna Array Signals in the Presence of Discrete Noise Sources

Previous formulations of the signal-to-noise power ratio (SNR) of an antenna array are shown to fail when a number of monochromatic discrete noise sources smaller than the number of elements in the array are considered in the formulation. It is shown how the performance of the array with respect to SNR may, nevertheless, be optimized using a gain maximization procedure The derivation of the theory is carried out in terms of network parameters defined at the input terminals of the array elements. Mutual coupling effects are taken into account. Numerical and experimental results are also presented to illustrate how this technique can be physically implemented.