Question about Spectral Estimation using AR Models

  • Thread starter Thread starter Master1022
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Estimation Models
Click For Summary
The discussion centers on spectral estimation using auto-regressive (AR) models, specifically the claim that an AR(p) model can yield p/2 peaks in its spectral estimates. The AR(p) model predicts future values based on previous ones, and its frequency response is derived from the z-transform. The poster seeks clarification on the reasoning behind the p/2 peaks, suggesting that the symmetry of the poles in the frequency response may contribute to this phenomenon. They also note a parallel with the FFT, which produces a symmetric two-sided power spectrum. The conversation highlights the complexities of understanding spectral properties in AR models and the relationship to z-transforms.
Master1022
Messages
590
Reaction score
116
TL;DR
Why can an autoregressive AR(p) model provide a spectrum estimate with ##p/2## peaks?
Hi,

I was recently reading about spectral estimation with parametric methods, and specifically auto-regressive models. I came across the statement: "An AR(p) model can provide spectral estimates with p/2 peaks" and I was wondering why this was the case. I do apologize if this is the wrong forum - should I be posting signal processing questions in the 'Electrical Engineering' forum, although I think it falls under information engineering?

Here is the context for the statement:
An AR(p) model predicts the next value in a time series using a linear combination of the ## p ## previous values. This can be written in the following form:
x_t = - \sum_{k = 1}^{p} a_{k} x_{t - k} + e_t
Then, by taking the z-transform, this leads to:
X(z) \left( 1 + \sum_{i = k}^{p} a_{k} z^{-k} \right) = E(z) \rightarrow G(z) = \frac{X(z)}{E(z)} = 1/\left( 1 + \sum_{i = k}^{p} a_{k} z^{-k} \right)
Taking ##z = e^{j\omega T_s} ## where ## \omega ## is the angular frequency and ## T_s ## is the sampling period, we can obtain the frequency response of the discrete system associated with the AR model. Then if we want to find the PSD spectrum of the signal:
P_{xx}(\omega) = |G(\omega)|^2 P_{ee}(\omega)
if the error is assumed to be gaussian with a variance ## \sigma_e ^ 2 ##, then we get:
P_{xx}(\omega) = \frac{\sigma_e ^ 2}{|1 + \sum_{i = k}^{p} a_{k} e^{-j\omega k T_s}|^2}
at which point it just states, without explanation, that it can produce a spectrum with ## p/2 ## peaks. My question is: why this is the case?

Attempt to understand:

From the denominator, it looks as if we have a +1 shifted 'circular-type' shape (with varying coefficients) from the origin. My only guess is that the ## p ## points will be will be symmetric about the real axis, and thus this will equate to ## p/2 ## peaks. Any help or guidance around this would be greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited:
Engineering news on Phys.org
I'm not as well-versed in z-tranforms as Fourier transforms, but I'm inclined to agree with your guess.

The FFT produces a two-sided power spectrum, symmetric about a DC value - with half of the energy in either side of this symmetry.
 
What mathematics software should engineering students use? Is it correct that much of the engineering industry relies on MATLAB, making it the tool many graduates will encounter in professional settings? How does SageMath compare? It is a free package that supports both numerical and symbolic computation and can be installed on various platforms. Could it become more widely used because it is freely available? I am an academic who has taught engineering mathematics, and taught the...

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
9
Views
2K