Random Processes
In radar and communication, signal reception is made difficult by randomly fluctuating waveforms that modulate or add to the desired signal. These waveforms, which change unpredictably as a function of time, are conveniently described statistically. They are observables of physical processes that are apparently controlled by a random mechanism; such functions of time are called random processes. There are many random processes in nature, such as the voltage generated across a resistor by thermally excited electrons, the spatial position of a particle undergoing Brownian motion, atmospheric pressure fluctuations, and so on. The mathematical representation of random processes introduced in this chapter is one of the tools required in the remainder of this book. Those wishing a broader and deeper understanding of this subject may consult the bibliography at the end of the chapter.
Random Processes, Page 1 of 2
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