Applying the skew-normal distribution to model coherent MPI and to evaluate its impact on PAM signals

Abstract

We statistically model the coherent multipath interference (MPI) using an extended skewnormal distribution, with the results showing a good agreement with published experimental data. This distribution is very flexible and permits to model data with large skewness values, which is a typical feature in coherent MPI histograms. Furthermore, the developed model was applied to estimate the impact of coherent MPI on PAM-4 systems, with the results showing a 1-dB Q-penalty for an MPI level of -24 dB and a bit error ratio of 10^-3.