Non-Gaussian noise benefits for coherent detection of narrowband weak signal

•We report the benefits of non-Gaussian noise to narrowband weak signal detection.•We achieve the optimal detection probability by tuning noise level.•Tuning noise is superior to optimizing detector threshold for the Rice noise model.

In an ad hoc suboptimal detector, the benefits of non-Gaussian noise to narrowband weak signal detection are demonstrated. Particularly, for a noise envelope with a Rice distribution, we can improve the detector performance by tuning threshold parameter but keeping noise level, or increasing the noise level for a fixed threshold. It is verified that, under certain circumstances, the optimal detection probability achieved by tuning noise level is superior to that obtained by optimizing the detector threshold.