Error performance of uncoded space time labelling diversity in spatially correlated Nakagami-q channels

Abstract

Greater spectral efficiency has recently been achieved for Uncoded Space Time Labelling Diversity (USTLD) systems by increasing the number of antennas in the transmit antenna array. However, due to constrained physical space in hardware, the use of more antennas can lead to degradation in error performance due to correlation. Thus, this paper studies the effects of spatial correlation on the error performance of USTLD systems. The union bound approach, along with the Kronecker correlation model, is used to derive an analytical expression for the average bit error probability (ABEP) in the presence of Nakagami‐q fading. This expression is validated by the results of Monte Carlo simulations, which shows a tight fit in the high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) region. The degradation in error performance due to transmit and receive antenna correlation is investigated independently. Results indicate that transmit antenna correlation in the USTLD systems investigated (3 × 3 8PSK, 2 × 4 16PSK, 2 × 4 16QAM, and 2 × 4 64QAM) causes a greater degradation in error performance than receive antenna correlation. It is also shown that 2 × 4 USTLD systems are more susceptible to correlation than comparable space‐time block coded systems for 8PSK, 16PSK, 16QAM, and 64QAM.