Further analytical results on the joint detection of cochannel signals using diversity arrays

Abstract

We derive a fully analytical expression for the union bound on symbol-error rate for the joint detection of several cochannel fading signals using a diversity antenna array, putting numerical results previously published on a firm analytical base. We prove that with pilot-based multiuser channel estimation, any number of users can enjoy diversity order equal to the number of antennas, and we quantify the performance penalty relative to single-user binary phase-shift keying as a function of number of users, constellation density, and number of antennas. We also demonstrate the interdependence of all users participating in the detection process.