Sensor array approach to nonwave field processing

Abstract

The application of sensor array processing methods for estimation and localization of wavefield sources is well-known. We extend the sensor array processing approach to estimating the parameters of the fields of a nonwave nature (the so-called nonwave fields). Considering the static and diffusion fields as typical examples of nonwave field, we derive the Cramer-Rao bounds of source parameter estimation errors. These theoretical results are completed by the experimental results of localization of diffusion sources in distilled water by a chemical sensor array, showing potentially high performance of sensor array approach. A modified version of the well-known CLEAN deconvolution algorithm has been used for experimental data processing. The nonwave field sensor array processing can find various applications such as localization of pollution sources and another types of admixtures, detection of metallic masses and wandering currents, etc.