Image registration error variance as a measure of overlay quality

When one image (the signal) is to be registered with a second image (the signal plus noise) of the same scene, one would like to know the accuracy possible for this registration. This paper derives an estimate of the variance of the registration error that can be expected via two approaches. The solution in each instance is found to be a function of the effective bandwidth of the signal and the noise, and the signal-to-noise ratio. Application of these results to LANDSAT-1 data indicates that for most cases, registration variances will be significantly less than the diameter of one picture element.