Abstract

Nonlinear matched filters (NMFs) involve the transformation of the signal spectrum and the filter transfer function through pointwise nonlinearities before they are multiplied in the transform domain. Experimental and theoretical results indicate that NMFs have considerable potential to achieve high powers of discrimination and resolution, as well as large signal-to-noise ratios.¹,² A statistical analysis in the two-class recognition indicates that the performance coefficient of the NMF is at least four times as large as the performance coefficient of the classical matched filter. In terms of resolving nearby signals, there seems to be no limit to the achievable resolution. In this paper, the most recent theoretical and experimental results in nonlinear matched filtering are discussed.

© 1990 Optical Society of America