Error Probability of Interleaved MC-CDMA Systems With MRC Receiver and Correlated Nakagami-<tex>$m$</tex>Fading Channels

The performance of an interleaved multicarrier code-division multiple access system with a maximal-ratio combining receiver is studied with the help of the characteristic function of correlated Nakagami-m random variables. Computer simulations are used to demonstrate the accuracy of the analysis. Based on the analytical results, with an exhaustive search of different subcarrier interleaving schemes, the optimal subcarrier interleaver which provides the minimum bit-error rate (BER) can be achieved. Compared to a random interleaver, the optimal subcarrier interleaver offers significant performance improvement.