An evaluation of bit errors due to the random fluctuation of atmosphere and ionosphere in satellite communication

For constructing satellite communication systems with high speed and large capacity, it becomes important to analyze quantitatively effects of the atmosphere and ionosphere. This paper deals with bit errors caused by arrival-angle fluctuation, sometimes called spot dancing. The analysis of bit errors is based on a multiple scattering theory of wave propagation in random media and the link model of the Communications and Broadcasting Engineering Test Satellite (COMETS) at the Ka band (20.7 GHz). At the Ka band the bit errors are affected by atmospheric fluctuations, but not by ionospheric fluctuations. The bit errors can not be neglected if the elevation angle becomes less than 10 [deg.] and a strong atmospheric fluctuation intensity is assumed