Secure MIMO systems with nonlinear energy harvesting using optimal transmit antenna selection over α−γ fading channels

• Published in: Physical communication 2023-04, Vol.57, p.101969, Article 101969
• Main Authors: Khodeir, Mahmoud A., Alquran, Saja M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: [formula omitted] fading channels; Maximal ratio combining scheme; Multiple input multiple output; Nonlinear energy harvesting scheme; Physical layer security; Transmit antenna selection scheme
• ISSN: 1874-4907; 1876-3219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phycom.2022.101969

This paper investigates the secrecy performance of multiple-input multiple-output systems with a nonlinear energy harvesting (EH) scheme used at the transmitter to improve energy efficiency and extend the lifetime of energy-constrained systems. Most of the current literature investigates cognitive radio networks with linear EH model. However, in order to realize more realistic scenarios due to hardware constraints, such as the saturation and sensitivity characteristics of the EH components, a nonlinear EH model is examined here and compared with a simpler linear EH scheme. In particular, a practical nonlinear energy harvester model with a source, a destination, an active eavesdropper, and a power beacon is considered under generalized α−μ fading conditions. Here, the eavesdropper can overhear the data transmission messages when the source communicates with the destination using wiretap channels. Furthermore, the source employs all its antennas to combine the radio frequency signals emitted by the power beacon via the maximal ratio combining (MRC) scheme. Moreover, the MRC scheme is used at the destination and eavesdropper to improve the signal’s quality (i.e., at the receiver side). Closed-form expressions for the lower bound and asymptotic security performance are investigated. Next, optimal antenna selection (OAS) scheme and traditional space–time transmission (STT) scheme are compared based on whether the channel state information (CSI) of the wiretap link is available. In addition to deriving the secrecy diversity order and secrecy array gain, asymptotic closed-form analytical expressions for security performance and closed-form analytical expressions for the probability of strictly positive secrecy capacity are also derived for various selection schemes. Finally, numerical results indicate that, compared to the linear EH scheme with just minimal trade-offs, the nonlinear EH scheme represents more realistic and dependable outcomes.