On the variance of the Least Mean Square squared-error sample curve

Most studies of adaptive algorithm behavior consider performance measures based on mean values such as the mean-square error. The derived models are useful for understanding the algorithm behavior under different environments and can be used for design. Nevertheless, from a practical point of view, the adaptive filter user has only one realization of the algorithm to obtain the desired result. This letter derives a model for the variance of the squared-error sample curve of the least-mean-square (LMS) adaptive algorithm, so that the achievable cancellation level can be predicted based on the properties of the steady-state squared error. The derived results provide the user with useful design guidelines.