Implementation of Sphere Decoding Algorithm

This paper focuses on the implementation and simulation analysis of the sphere decoding algorithm, along with comparative simulations against maximum likelihood detection. First, we introduce the fundamental principles and procedural steps of the sphere decoding algorithm, detailing its implementation process with emphasis on key computational components such as radius initialization, branch pruning strategies, and metric calculations. Next, we conduct simulation analyses to evaluate the performance of the sphere decoding algorithm under various conditions, including different signal-to-noise ratios and constellation sizes. Through comparative simulations, we examine the advantages and limitations of both maximum likelihood detection and sphere decoding algorithms, analyzing their computational complexity, error rate performance, and implementation feasibility. The study aims to provide comprehensive understanding of the sphere decoding algorithm and serve as a reference for further research and practical applications in digital communication systems.