Statistical models of fading signals propagated through the ionospheric satellite channels

Abstract

Statistical models of satellite ionospheric radio channels are considered in the article, the influence of which causes fading of signals during their propagation (amplitude and phase variations of signals) due to random temporal and spatial fluctuations of the electron density of ionospheric irregularities. These models are based on the use of empirical laws regarding the densities of the amplitudes and phases of digital signals from the output of signal demodulators. A technique for estimating the probability of erroneous reception of digital signals with phase shift keying using the considered fading models is presented. Estimates of energy losses end errorperformance degradation during propagation along ionospheric satellite radio channels with scintillation index parameters typical for the P- and L-frequency bands, with respect to propagation in free space, have been made.