Bit Error Rate Analysis of Orthogonal Space-Time Block Codes in Nakagami-M Keyhole Channels

We analyze the bit error rate (BER) performance of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems employing orthogonal space-time block codes (STBC) in Nakagami-m keyhole channels. We derive exact analytical closed-form expressions for the average BER of I-ary pulse amplitude modulation (I-PAM) and M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM) as well as a tight approximation for M-ary phase shift keying (M-PSK). These BER expressions are given as finite sums of weighted Meijer G-functions, which can be easily evaluated numerically. Furthermore, we determine the corresponding high SNR asymptotics, based on which we quantify the diversity order of the considered system. Numerical results illustrate the impact of several different parameters on the average BER and are shown to be in excellent agreement with simulated values.