Massive MIMO systems and nonlinear hardware impairments

Research Project, 2014 – 2015

Massive MIMO is a disruptive technology that consists of equipping communication transceivers with an excessive number of antennas to enable unprecedented gains in throughput and radiated energy efficiency. The aim of this project is to assess, through both a theoretical and an experimental effort, the robustness of massive MIMO gains under nonlinear hardware impairments, with specific emphasis on phase noise. We will determine the hardware typology (e.g., oscillator class) that needs to be used to release massive MIMO gains for a given targeted energy and spectral efficiency. This will facilitate a realistic performance/cost assessment of massive MIMO systems and pave the way for the deployment of massive MIMO systems in commercial applications. The results of our investigation will be used to determine which deployment scenario (access network, wireless backhaul network, dedicated applications) is best suited for massive MIMO technology. The project has the additional goals of strengthening the collaboration between Chalmers and Ericsson within an area (wireless cellular network design) that is important for the Swedish industry, of producing scientific publications and patents, of enabling knowledge transfer between Chalmers and Ericsson, and, finally, of generating new research areas both at Chalmers and Ericsson