Error exponents for maximum-likelihood and successive decoders for the Gaussian CDMA channel

Random-coding error exponents are derived for the Gaussian code-division multiple-access (CDMA) channel for the maximum-likelihood and optimum successive decoders. Error exponents not only specify the capacity region of the channel, which is known, but also give lower bounds on the rate of exponential decay of the average probability of error as a function of the block length of random codes. A comparison of the two decoders in terms of their error exponents is included.