Analysis of envelope correlation on performance of MRC in correlated Rician-fading channels

A simple envelope correlation expression of two maximal-ratio combined (MRC) signals in correlated diversity Rician-fading channels is derived in high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). In addition, the relationship between the system performance and envelope correlation is also obtained, which indicates that it is much easier to evaluate the system performance using the envelope correlation, since the effects of parameters such as the Rician factor and all channel attenuations are able to be replaced by the envelope correlation. The validity of the analytical relationship is verified by numerical simulations using a correlated Rician-fading emulator.