Error exponents for channel coding with application to signal constellation design

This paper concerns error exponents and the structure of input distributions maximizing the random coding exponent for a stochastic channel model. The following conclusions are obtained under general assumptions on the channel statistics. 1) The optimal distribution has a finite number of mass points, or in the case of a complex channel, the amplitude has finite support. 2) A new class of algorithms is introduced based on the cutting-plane method to construct an optimal input distribution. The algorithm constructs a sequence of discrete distributions, along with upper and lower bounds on the random coding exponent at each iteration. 3) In some numerical example considered, the resulting code significantly outperforms traditional signal constellation schemes such as quadrature amplitude modulation and phase-shift keying for all rates below the capacity