Exact bit error rate calculations for synchronous MC-CDMA over a Rayleigh fading channel

The bit error rate of a synchronous multicarrier code-division multiple-access system operating in a Rayleigh fading channel is calculated based on a moment generating function method, without any assumption on the distribution of multiple access interference. Two closed-form BER expressions are derived. Moreover, the BER can be accurately evaluated by using a Gauss-Chebyshev quadrature rule based numerical approach.