A new twist on the Marcum Q-function and its application

A new form of the Marcum (1950) Q-function is presented that has both computational and analytical advantages. The new form is particularly useful in simplifying and rendering more accurate the analysis of the error probability performance of uncoded and coded partially coherent, differentially coherent, and noncoherent communication systems in the presence of fading. It also enables simple upper and lower bounds to be found analogous to the Chernoff bound on the Gaussian Q-function.