The BER optimal linear rake receiver for signal detection in symmetric alpha-stable noise

The optimal linear Rake receiver for the detection of signals contaminated by symmetric alpha stable noise is derived for 1 < ¿ ¿ 2. Although this structure is suboptimal, it is optimal among the class of linear Rake receivers in the sense of minimizing the bit error rate. The proposed receiver is a very simple form of diversity combiner for signal detection in symmetric alpha-stable noise. The bit error rate improvements of the optimal linear Rake receiver over the maximal ratio combiner and the equal gain combiner are also derived in the form of signal-to-noise ratio advantage.