Efficient evaluation of probabilities of detection and the generalized Q-function (Corresp.)

A highly efficient method of evaluating probabilities of detection and the generalized
\cal Q
-function to within an absolute accuracy
\epsilon
is presented. Many unnecessary computations are avoided when it can be determined by Chernoff bounds that the desired function is within
\epsilon
of 0 or 1. When this is not the case, efficient algorithms for the necessary computations are also provided.