Shannon information for joint estimation/detection tasks and complex imaging systems.

Shannon information is defined for imaging tasks where signal detection is combined with parameter estimation. The first task considered is when the parameters are associated with the signal and parameter estimates are only produced when the signal is present. The second task examined is when the parameters are associated with the object being imaged, and parameter estimates are produced whether the signal is present or not. In each case, the Shannon information expression has a simple additive form.