High resolution source localization in near field sensor arrays by MVDR technique

Research over the last decade has led to technological advances in high frequency active and passive detection technology and signal processing. An emerging application area is the standoff detection of concealed objects such as weapons and explosives using penetrating electromagnetic radiation such as terahertz waves (THz). Here sensor arrays are employed in the near field to image the concealed objects. A new approach is investigated to improve upon methods such as Fourier inversion and sum and delay beamforming. A method based on the Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR) filter technique is developed to localize source points in the electric field coming from a subject. To pinpoint near field sources with precision, this MVDR routine calculates filter responses along a plane that has direction of arrival angle and range axes. To understand its limitations, this new method is tested for angular resolution in various directions of arrival, ranges, and SNR levels. The results show that this technique has potential to accurately detect closely spaced point sources when only a few sensors are used to collect measurements