A Unified MGF-Based Capacity Analysis of Diversity Combiners over Generalized Fading Channels

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new unified mathematical framework to analyze the average capacity of diversity combining techniques like EGC and MRC over generalized fading channels, including complex models relevant for high-frequency communications.

Contribution

The paper develops a novel generic framework for capacity analysis of L-branch EGC/MRC over generalized fading channels, including new results for Gamma shadowed generalized Nakagami-m fading.

Findings

Framework accurately models capacity over complex fading environments.

Numerical and simulation results validate the new analysis.

Applicable to high-frequency communication scenarios.

Abstract

Unified exact average capacity results for L-branch coherent diversity receivers including equal-gain combining (EGC) and maximal-ratio combining (MRC) are not known. This paper develops a novel generic framework for the capacity analysis of $L$-branch EGC/MRC over generalized fading channels. The framework is used to derive new results for the Gamma shadowed generalized Nakagami-m fading model which can be a suitable model for the fading environments encountered by high frequency (60 GHz and above) communications. The mathematical formalism is illustrated with some selected numerical and simulation results confirming the correctness of our newly proposed framework.