Complex Gaussian Ratio Distribution with Applications for Error Rate Calculation in Fading Channels with Imperfect CSI

Communications systems rarely have perfect channel state information (PCSI) when demodulating received symbols. This paper shows that the symbol error rate (SER) of a flat fading communications system can be expressed in closed form by expressing the demodulator outputs as random variable (RVs) that have a complex ratio distribution, which is the ratio of two correlated complex Gaussian RVs. To complete the analysis, the complex ratio probability density function (PDF) and cumulative distribution function (CDF) are both derived. Finally, using several scenarios based on M-QAM signaling, the SER performance of imperfect channel state information (ICSI) systems is analyzed.