Performance analysis of mid-symbol antenna transition spatial modulation approach over Rician fading channels

The mid-symbol antenna transition (MAT) approach reduces the number of transmitter antennas in spatial modulation (SM) systems. This paper studies the performance of MAT technique over correlated and uncorrelated wireless channels. We focus on the scenario wherein the channel consists of multiple paths with a line of sight component, i.e., Rician fading channel. An accurate closed form for the average bit error rate (ABER) performance of the MAT approach is derived. Traditional SM, generalized SM (GSM), and variable generalized SM (VGSM) approaches are used as benchmarks to evaluate the considered MAT approach. Simulation results validate the accuracy of the derived ABER closed form. Performance enhancements, in terms of ABER, of the MAT approach compared to SM, GSM, and VGSM approaches are affirmed analytically and by simulation results.