BER performance for downlink MC-CDMA systems over Rician fading channels (Q2570477)

Summary: We consider downlink multicarrier code-division multiple-access (MC-CDMA) systems using binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) modulation scheme and maximal ratio combining (MRC) in frequency-selective Rician fading channels. A time-domain method to obtain bit error rate (BER) by calculating moment generating function (MGF) of the decision variable for a tapped-delay-line channel model is proposed. This method does not require any assumption regarding the statistical or spectral distribution of multiple access interference (MAI), and it is also not necessary to assume that the fading encountered by the subcarriers is independent of each other. The analytical formula is also verified by simulations.