<title>Radio interference impact on acousto-optic correlator performance</title>

Abstract

Time-integrating acousto-optic correlators (TIAOC) provide effective means for spread spectrum signal processing in various applications. Proposed by the authors two-dimensional quadrature radio-frequency TIAOC combines relative simplicity of quadrature channel implementation with extremely wide frequency band limited by the corresponding parameter of the Bragg cells used. When designing signal processors for communication or navigation systems, estimation of radio interference impact on system performance is essential. The paper is concerned with evaluation of dynamic range and sensitivity of the TIAOC mentioned with radio interference taken into account as well as external Gaussian noise. General results obtained are particularized for a simple case of harmonic interference. Such an interference is shown to have negligible effect on dynamic range and sensitivity of the device when interference power is less than that of Gaussian noise.