Performance analysis of 16-ary QAM signalling through two-link nonlinear channels in additive Gaussian noise

This paper considers the problem of evaluating the performance of a 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signal transmitted through a bandpass nonlinearity (BPNL), exhibiting AM-AM and AM-PM conversions, and in the presence of additive gaussian noise (AGN) both preceding and following the nonlinearity. An expression for the error probability is derived and computed. Also, the effect of TWT back-off from saturation on 16-ary QAM system performance is studied. Finally, as an example, a comparative study of 16-ary CPSK and 16-ary QAM transmissions is undertaken with the BPNL operated at various levels of back-off from saturation.