Temporal and geometrical decorrelation often prevents SAR interferometry from being an operational tool for surface deformation monitoring and topographic profile reconstruction. Moreover, atmospheric disturbances can strongly compromise the accuracy of the results. The authors present a complete procedure for the identification and exploitation of stable natural reflectors or permanent scatterers (PSs) starting from long temporal series of interferometric SAR images. When, as it often happens, the dimension of the PS is smaller than the resolution cell, the coherence is good even for interferograms with baselines larger than the decorrelation one, and all the available images of the ESA ERS data set can be successfully exploited. On these pixels, submeter DEM accuracy and millimetric terrain motion detection can be achieved, since atmospheric phase screen (APS) contributions can be estimated and removed. Examples are then shown of small motion measurements, DEM refinement, and APS estimation and removal in the case of a sliding area in Ancona, Italy. ERS data have been used.

Permanent scatterers in SAR interferometry

A rapid synchronization method is presented for an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system using either a continuous transmission or a burst operation over a frequency-selective channel. The presence of a signal can be detected upon the receipt of just one training sequence of two symbols. The start of the frame and the beginning of the symbol can be found, and carrier frequency offsets of many subchannels spacings can be corrected. The algorithms operate near the Cramer-Rao lower bound for the variance of the frequency offset estimate, and the inherent averaging over many subcarriers allows acquisition at very low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs).

/pdf/robust-frequency-and-timing-synchronization-for-ofdm-xyhk65f0x1.pdf

Robust frequency and timing synchronization for OFDM

The performance of the MUSIC and ML methods is studied, and their statistical efficiency is analyzed. The Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) for the estimation problems is derived, and some useful properties of the CRB covariance matrix are established. The relationship between the MUSIC and ML estimators is investigated as well. A numerical study is reported of the statistical efficiency of the MUSIC estimator for the problem of finding the directions of two plane waves using a uniform linear array. An exact description of the results is included. >

MUSIC, maximum likelihood, and Cramer-Rao bound

Discrete and temporarily stable natural reflectors or permanent scatterers (PS) can be identified from long temporal series of interferometric SAR images even with baselines larger than the so-called critical baseline. This subset of image pixels can be exploited successfully for high accuracy differential measurements. The authors discuss the use of PS in urban areas, like Pomona, CA, showing subsidence and absidence effects. A new approach to the estimation of the atmospheric phase contributions, and the local displacement field is proposed based on simple statistical assumptions. New solutions are presented in order to cope with nonlinear motion of the targets.

/pdf/nonlinear-subsidence-rate-estimation-using-permanent-4ppv4mgnmr.pdf

Nonlinear subsidence rate estimation using permanent scatterers in differential SAR interferometry

Some of the most sensitive methods of measuring magnetic fields use interactions of resonant light with atomic vapour. Recent developments in this vibrant field have led to improvements in sensitivity and other characteristics of atomic magnetometers, benefiting their traditional applications for measurements of geomagnetic anomalies and magnetic fields in space, and opening many new areas previously accessible only to magnetometers based on superconducting quantum interference devices. We review basic principles of modern optical magnetometers, discuss fundamental limitations on their performance, and describe recently explored applications for dynamical measurements of biomagnetic fields, detecting signals in NMR and MRI, inertial rotation sensing, magnetic microscopy with cold atoms, and tests of fundamental symmetries of nature.

/pdf/optical-magnetometry-escholarship-2a9vyl49vm.pdf

Optical magnetometry - eScholarship

Estimation of the parameters of a single-frequency complex tone from a finite number of noisy discrete-time observations is discussed. The appropriate Cramer-Rao bounds and maximum-likelihood (MI.) estimation algorithms are derived. Some properties of the ML estimators are proved. The relationship of ML estimation to the discrete Fourier transform is exploited to obtain practical algorithms. The threshold effect of one algorithm is analyzed and compared to simulation results. Other simulation results verify other aspects of the analysis.

Single tone parameter estimation from discrete-time observations

This correspondence examines multiparameter generalizations of the Cramer-Rao (C-R) bound and related bounds from a new viewpoint. We derive a general class of bounds and show that Rao's generalization is the tightest (bes0 of the class. A bound reported by Zacks is another member of the class. This derivation of the C-R bound emphasizes its optimum nature. The relationship of the general class to Barankin bounds is also discussed.

A unification of Cram&#233;r-Rao type bounds (Corresp.)

This correspondence examines multiparameter generalizations of the Cramer-Rao (C-R) bound and related bounds from a new viewpoint. We derive a general class of bounds and show that Rao's generalization is the tightest (best) of the class. A bound reported by Zacks is another member of the class. This derivation of the C-R bound emphasizes its optimum nature. The relationship of the general class to Barankin bounds is also discussed.

D. Rife

Papers

Single tone parameter estimation from discrete-time observations

A unification of Cramér-Rao type bounds (Corresp.)

A unification of Cramer-Rao type bounds

D. Rife

Papers

Single tone parameter estimation from discrete-time observations

A unification of Cram&#233;r-Rao type bounds (Corresp.)

A unification of Cramer-Rao type bounds

A unification of Cramér-Rao type bounds (Corresp.)