Deterministic model of multipath fading for circular and parabolic reflector patterns

Traditionally, a probabilistic model has been used to analyze a wireless communication system's susceptibility to multipath fading. However, the characteristics of fading in an actual wireless communication link depend on the particular deterministic geometry of reflectors that the signal encounters. In this paper, we present a deterministic model of multipath propagation, and we apply the model to two reflector geometries: a circular pattern of reflectors and a parabolic pattern of reflectors. Numerical results for each case are included, and it is shown that the geometry of the reflectors that the signal encounters has a substantial effect on the rate of change in signal strength observed by a mobile receiver.