Error probability analysis for V-BLAST in correlated Rayleigh channels

The paper derives the analytical upper bound of the average probability of error (APE) for a V-BLAST zero-forcing receiver (ZFR) in correlated Rayleigh channels. The APE is presented as a function of the diagonal element of the inverse transmit correlation matrix. The correlation at the receive antennas is converted to that at the transmit antennas, and the analogous impact is obtained. The bound demonstrates that the diversity order is determined by the difference between the numbers of transmit and receive antennas, and it shows that the correlation results in a decrease in effective SNR as well as a degeneration in APE. Simulations validate the analytical results.