Correlation study for single-input multiple-output optical wireless scattering channels

The gain of single-input multiple-output (SIMO) communication over single-input single-output (SISO) communication depends on the correlation of the link gain between the transceiver antenna pairs. In this work, in order to evaluate the SIMO gain of non-line of sight (NLOS) optical wireless communication, we study such correlation based on both theoretical analysis and numerical evaluations. Theoretical analysis shows non-negligible link gain correlation for the multiple receivers. In the simulations with one transmitter and two receivers, for transmitter-receiver distance 100m, the correlation can be over 0.8 even for the distance larger than 1m.