The Fluctuating Two-Ray Fading Model With Independent Specular Components

Abstract

We introduce and characterize the independent fluctuating two-ray (IFTR) fading model, a class of fading models consisting of two specular components which fluctuate <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">independently</i> , plus a diffuse component modeled as a complex Gaussian random variable. The IFTR model complements the popular fluctuating two-ray (FTR) model, on which the specular components are fully correlated and fluctuate <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">jointly</i> . The chief probability functions of the received SNR in IFTR fading, including the PDF, CDF and MGF, are expressed in closed-form, having a functional form similar to other state-of-the-art fading models. Then, the IFTR model is empirically validated using multiple channels measured in rather diverse scenarios, including line of sight (LOS) millimeter-wave, land mobile satellite (LMS) and underwater acoustic communication (UAC), showing a better fit than the original FTR model and other models previously used in these environments. Additionally, the performance of wireless communication systems operating under IFTR fading is evaluated in closed-form in two scenarios: ( <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">i</i> ) exact and asymptotic bit error rate for a family of coherent modulations; and ( <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ii</i> ) exact and asymptotic outage probability.