On the BER of Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Underwater Wireless Optical Communication Systems

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the bit error rate performance of MIMO underwater wireless optical communication systems, providing exact and bounded expressions, and demonstrating the benefits of MIMO in mitigating turbulence effects.

Contribution

It offers new analytical BER expressions and bounds for MIMO-UWOC systems, validated by simulations and photon-counting methods.

Findings

MIMO reduces BER under turbulence conditions

Analytical BER expressions match simulation results

MIMO extends communication range in turbulent channels

Abstract

In this paper we analyze and investigate the bit error rate (BER) performance of multiple-input multiple-output underwater wireless optical communication (MIMO-UWOC) systems. In addition to exact BER expressions, we also obtain an upper bound on the system BER. To effectively estimate the BER expressions, we use Gauss-Hermite quadrature formula as well as approximation to the sum of log-normal random variables. We confirm the accuracy of our analytical expressions by evaluating the BER through photon-counting approach. Our simulation results show that MIMO technique can mitigate the channel turbulence-induced fading and consequently, can partially extend the viable communication range, especially for channels with stronger turbulence.