Optimal signaling for meteor burst channels

Abstract

We examine the design of modulation systems for meteor burst communications. In particular, we present a technique which allows the designer to determine the signal set size and the signaling rate which maximize the throughput per meteor burst. The technique, which involves the capacity and cutoff rate from information theory, is applied to a variable coding rate scheme and a variable signaling rate scheme, for both coherent MPSK (M=2, 4, 8) and noncoherent MFSK (M=2, 4, 8, 16, 32). As a fringe benefit, the method proposed also provides estimates on achievable throughputs.