The use of output moments to predict performance of nonlinear systems with Gaussian inputs

Certain moments of the output of a bandpass nonlinear system whose input is a stationary Gaussian random process will be used to predict the performance (i.e., the average probability of error) of the system. The main application of this procedure is the analysis of a frequency translating saturating satellite link. The basic analytical technique to be employed will be the use of moment space bounds. It will be shown that by using at most a two-dimensional Gaussian quadrature formula to perform a numerical integration, the bounding procedure presented in this paper can be used in a relatively straightforward manner with virtually any bandpass nonlinearity.