An Optimal Algorithm for the Formation of Unbiased Estimates of the Effective Noise Temperature of a Stochastic Radio Thermal Signal

Abstract

The main optimal signal processing operation is shown to be the division of the energy estimates for the random processes observed in the adjacent time intervals. It is justified that this processing may be deemed the primary one and it is necessary to introduce the secondary processing - averaging the unbiased primary estimates of the effective noise temperature. The potential fluctuation sensitivity of the radiometer and the limiting errors of the joint estimates of the noise temperature and the gain instability parameter have been determined.