On Performance of Integrated Satellite HAPS Ground Communication: Aerial IRS Node vs Terrestrial IRS Node

With a motive of ubiquitous connectivity over the globe with enhanced spectral efficiency, intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) integrated satellite-terrestrial communications is a topic of research interest in an infrastructure-deficient remote terrains. In line with this vision, this paper entails the performance analysis of satellite-terrestrial networks leveraging both aerial and terrestrial IRS nodes, with the support of high altitude platforms over diverse fading channels including shadowed Rician, Rician, and Nakagami-$m$ fading channels. The merits of IRS in enhancing spectral efficiency is analyzed through closed-form expressions of outage probability and ergodic rate. Further, the average symbol error rate analysis for the higher-order quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) schemes such as hexagonal QAM, rectangular QAM, cross QAM, and square QAM is performed. Practical constraints like antenna gains, path loss, and link fading are considered to characterize the satellite terrestrial links. Finally, a comparison between the high-altitude platforms based IRS node and terrestrial IRS nodes is performed and various insights are drawn under various fading scenarios and path loss conditions. This paper contribute towards understanding and potential implementation of IRS-integrated satellite-terrestrial networks for efficient and reliable communication.