Performance analysis of multi-input multi-output systems with maximum likelihood detection over shadowed fading channels

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission techniques constitute an important technology in modern wireless communication. Hence, performance analysis methods for such systems are of considerable interest. This paper considers first the average pairwise error probability for uncoded MIMO systems employing maximum likelihood detection over a composite Rayleigh-Lognormal fading channel with spatial correlation. It provides general results, applicable also to a wider class of shadowing models, concerning asymptotical diversity gains and shows that they are not changed by such shadowing. Then, analytical evaluation techniques for bit-error-rate (BER) over composite Rayleigh-Lognormal fading channels, based on the truncated union bound and the transfer function, are considered. Furthermore, these techniques are modified for applications over spatially correlated channels. This paper shows that such performance evaluation techniques provide good approximations to BER of spatially uncorrelated MIMO systems and also in the presence of moderate spatial correlation, over Rayleigh-Lognormal fading channels. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.