End-to-end Simulations of Coded Transmissions in Space Links Affected by Solar Scintillation

In this paper coded space communication links impaired by solar scintillation are investigated, following a comprehensive end-to-end approach. With respect to baseband analyses, this allows for a more realistic modeling of actual communication links in these scenarios, though at the cost of longer simulation times and higher minimum values of the error rates assessable. The effect of solar scintillation on both signal amplitude and phase is studied, by considering also possible use of non-coherent demodulation to withstand phase synchronization impairments. The study allows optimizing some receiver parameters, such as the phase-locked loop bandwidth, in such a way as to face even critical contingency scenarios.