Random Variables and Signals
Topic 20: Linear Systems with Random Inputs
Contents
Linear Systems with Random Inputs
We will now study what happens when a random signal is the input to a linear system, or more specifically, a linear time-invariant (LTI) system. We will characterize the output is the system by finding the mean and autocorrelation functions of the output in terms of those of the input signal.
Recall that an LTI system can be characterized by its impulse response h(t).
With an arbitrary input x(t), the output of the system is x(t) * h(t).
What if the imput is a random process X(t)? Then we have the scenario depicted in figure 2.
Then, ∀$ \omega $ ∈ S,
Dropping $ \omega $ from the notation,
We want to know E[Y(t)] and R$ _{XX} $(t$ _1 $,t$ _2 $).
First the mean:
So
Now R$ _{YY} $(t):
So
Very often, we will assume that X(t) is WSS. What happens to $ \mu_Y $ and R$ _{YY} $ then?
First the mean:
So $ \mu_Y $(t) does not depend on t and
Now R$ _{YY} $: from earlier,
for some function R$ _Y $: R → R, where $ \tau $ = t$ _2 $ - t$ _1 $.
Constant $ \mu_Y $ and R$ _{YY} $(t$ _1 $,t$ _2 $) = R$ _Y(\tau) $ implies:
Important result: If the input of a stable LTI system is WSS, then the out put is WSS. By stable LTI system characterized by impulse response h(t) we mean that
The Power Spectrum
What is the "frequency content" of a random process X(t)?
Definition $ \qquad $ The power spectral density or PSD of a WSS random process X(t) is the Fourier transform of its autocorrelation function:
Poperties:
- Since R$ _X(-\tau) $ = R$ _X(\tau) $, S$ _X(\omega) $ is real.
-
- R$ _X(\tau) $ real ⇒ S$ _X(\omega) $ is an even function of $ \omega $
Definition $ \qquad $ The cross correaltion function of random processes X(t) and Y(t) is
Definition $ \qquad $ The random processes X(t) and Y(t) are jointly WSS if each is WSS and
for some R$ _{XY} $: R → R, where $ \tau $ = t$ _1 $ - t$ _2 $.
Definition $ \qquad $ The cross power spectral density of two jointly WSS random process X(t) and Y(t) is
Question: If X(t) is the WSS input to an LTI system with impulse response h(t), then what is the PSD of the output Y(t)?
First, write R$ _Y(\tau) $ as a convolution. From before, we have that
Let $ \lambda = -\alpha $. Then,
where
Let
Then
Also, it can be shown that
So
Example $ \qquad $ If X(t) is white noise, zero mean, then
$ \Rightarrow S_X(\omega) = \frac{N_0}{2} $
Example $ \qquad $ Given
X(t) is white noise with $ \mu_X $ = 0 and
Then,
and
To show this,
$ H(\omega)=\frac{1}{1+i\omega} $
So
This result could have also been derived using
References
- M. Comer. ECE 600. Class Lecture. Random Variables and Signals. Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Purdue University. Fall 2013.
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