Exponential-type bounds on the generalized Marcum Q-function with application to error probability analysis over fading channels

Strict upper and lower bounds of exponential-type are derived for the generalized (mth order) Marcum Q-function which enable simple evaluation of a tight upper bound on the average bit-error probability performance of a wide class of noncoherent and differentially coherent communication systems operating over generalized fading channels. For the case of frequency-selective fading with arbitrary statistics per independent fading path, the resulting upper bound on performance is expressed in the form of a product of moment generating functions of the instantaneous power random variables that characterize these paths.