Symbol Error Rate Analysis of Multi-IRS-Aided Distributed Space-Time Block Coding in MISO Wireless Communication Systems

The intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) serves to manipulate information and modulate signals, facilitating space-time coding in wireless communication. This study presents an innovative model for implementing space-time block coding (STBC), where the base station transmits multiple symbols to a user using multiple IRSs. These IRSs manipulate phase shifts to establish robust links. Initially, statistical characterizations are derived for the sum of independent generalized gamma (GG) random variables, providing expressions for the end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Subsequently, a closed-form expression for symbol error rate (SER) is developed to evaluate reliability performance. Additionally, an asymptotic expression for SER at high transmission power is supplied to outline performance limits. Simulation results reveal that the STBC system assisted by multiple IRSs attains comparable or superior performance when contrasted with the STBC system that employs multiple amplify-and-forward (AF) relays, utilizing a restricted number of reflecting units.