Information theoretic capacity bounds for burst transmissions with imperfect carrier synchronization

Burst transmissions are used in multiple access schemes such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) or ALOHA type of access. Burst transmissions are especially important in military satellite communication networks which use fast frequency hopping for providing resistance to intentional jamming of signals, where very low Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNR) are common. In this paper we develop information theoretic bounds for capacity for burst transmissions with M-PSK modulated signals when carrier synchronization is imperfect, which is especially true in low SNR operation. Developing these bounds also results in a method for “optimal” encoding for burst transmissions. From a signal-processing perspective, open-loop and closed-loop partially data aided synchronization schemes which are optimal in the maximum-likelihood sense are developed for M-PSK modulated signals. These will help achieve the best possible throughput with burst transmissions.