A generalised antenna correlation model for accurate performance evaluation of 2D massive MIMO communication systems

Abstract

ABSTRACT Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) is considered as a key component of the new fifth-generation (5 G) communication systems and beyond to meet the rapid explosion of global wireless data traffic. However, antenna correlation is well known to have a direct impact on the capacity of practical MIMO schemes. Therefore, research and industrial communities are still looking for novel techniques to employ a large number of antennas with minimum correlation for compact mobile devices and base stations. In this paper, a realistic and generalised correlation matrix (GCM) model is developed for the accurate performance evaluation of two-dimensional (2D) massive MIMO systems. Based on the proposed GCM model, a closed-form expression of the channel capacity is derived for spatially correlated Rayleigh-fading MIMO environment to assess the acceptable range of antenna correlation. Over different 2D antenna configurations, simulation results validate the accuracy of derived capacity expression and demonstrate that the proposed GCM model tends to provide a more realistic performance compared with the existing methods. This may help to implement a large number of antennas in a constrained-size ground plane with an efficient tradeoff between 2D array designs and required system performance.