Waveform Selection Based on Discrete Prolate Spheroidal Sequences for Near-Optimal SNRs for Photoacoustic Applications

Abstract

Waveform engineering is an important topic in imaging and detection systems. Waveform design for the optimal Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) under energy and duration constraints can be modelled as an eigenproblem of a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. SNR gains can be achieved using this approach. However, calculating the waveform for optimal SNR requires precise knowledge of the functional form of the absorber, as well as solving a Fredholm integral eigenproblem which can be difficult. In this paper, we address both those difficulties by proposing a Fourier series expansion method to convert the integral eigenproblem to a small matrix eigenproblem which is both easy to compute and gives a heuristic view of the effects of different absorber kernels on the eigenproblem. Another important result of this paper is to provide an alternate waveform, the Discrete Prolate Spheroidal Sequences (DPSS), as the input waveform to obtain near optimal SNR that does not require the exact form of the absorber to be known apriori.