Spectral efficiency evaluation for selection combining diversity (SCD) scheme over slow fading

Abstract: In this paper we derive closed-form expressions for the single-user capacity of selection combining diversity (SCD) system, taking into account the effect of imperfect channel estimation at the receiver. The channel considered is a slowly varying spatially independent flat Rayleigh fading channel. The complex channel estimate and the actual channel are modelled as jointly Gaussian random variables with a correlation that depends on the estimation quality. Three adaptive transmission schemes are analysed: 1) optimal power and rate adaptation opra; 2) constant power with optimal rate adaptation ora; and 3) channel inversion with fixed rate cifr. Furthermore, we derive in this paper analytical results for capacity statistics including moment generating function (MGF), complementary cumulative distribution function (CDF) and probability density function (PDF). These statistics are valid for arbitrary number of receive antennas. Our numerical results show the effect of Gaussian channel estimation error on the achievable spectral efficiency.