This paper presents an overview of progress in the area of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) space-time coded wireless systems. After some background on the research leading to the discovery of the enormous potential of MIMO wireless links, we highlight the different classes of techniques and algorithms proposed which attempt to realize the various benefits of MIMO including spatial multiplexing and space-time coding schemes. These algorithms are often derived and analyzed under ideal independent fading conditions. We present the state of the art in channel modeling and measurements, leading to a better understanding of actual MIMO gains. Finally, the paper addresses current questions regarding the integration of MIMO links in practical wireless systems and standards.

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From theory to practice: an overview of MIMO space-time coded wireless systems

Space-time codes (STC) are a class of signaling techniques, offering coding and diversity gains along with improved spectral efficiency. These codes exploit both the spatial and the temporal diversity of the wireless link by combining the design of the error correction code, modulation scheme and array processing. STC are well suited for improving the downlink performance, which is the bottleneck in asymmetric applications such as downstream Internet. Three original contributions to the area of STC are presented in this dissertation. First, the development of analytic tools that determine the fundamental limits on the performance of STC in a variety of channel conditions. For trellis-type STC, transfer function based techniques are applied to derive performance bounds over Rayleigh, Rician and correlated fading environments. For block-type STC, an analytic framework that supports various complex orthogonal designs with arbitrary signal cardinalities and array configurations is developed. In the second part of the dissertation, the Virginia Tech Space-Time Advanced Radio (VT-STAR) is designed, introducing a multi-antenna hardware laboratory test bed, which facilitates characterization of the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channel and validation of various space-time approaches. In the third part of the dissertation, two novel space-time architectures paired with iterative processing principles are proposed. The first scheme extends the suitability of STC to outdoor wireless communications by employing iterative equalization/decoding for time dispersive channels and the second scheme employs iterative interference cancellation/decoding to solve the error propagation problem of Bell-Labs Layered Space-Time Architecture (BLAST). Results show that remarkable energy and spectral efficiencies are achievable by combining concepts drawn from space-time coding, multiuser detection, array processing and iterative decoding.

Space-Time Codes for High Data Rate Wireless Communications

The effect of spatial diversity on the throughput and reliability of wireless networks is examined. Spatial diversity is realized through multiple independently fading transmit/receive antenna paths in single-user communication and through independently fading links in multiuser communication. Adopting spatial diversity as a central theme, we start by studying its information-theoretic foundations, then we illustrate its benefits across the physical (signal transmission/coding and receiver signal processing) and networking (resource allocation, routing, and applications) layers. Throughout the paper, we discuss engineering intuition and tradeoffs, emphasizing the strong interactions between the various network functionalities.

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Great expectations: the value of spatial diversity in wireless networks

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems employ spatial multiplexing to increase spectral efficiency or transmit diversity to improve link reliability. The performance of these signaling strategies is highly dependent on MIMO channel characteristics, which, in turn, depend on antenna height and spacing and richness of scattering. In practice, large antenna spacings are often required to achieve significant multiplexing or diversity gain. The use of dual-polarized antennas (polarization diversity) is a promising cost- and space-effective alternative, where two spatially separated uni-polarized antennas are replaced by a single antenna structure employing orthogonal polarizations. This paper investigates the performance of spatial multiplexing and transmit diversity (Alamouti (see IEEE J. Select. Areas Commun., vol.16, p.1451-58, Oct. 1998) scheme) in MIMO wireless systems employing dual-polarized antennas. In particular, we derive estimates for the uncoded average symbol error rate of spatial multiplexing and transmit diversity and identify channel conditions where the use of polarization diversity yields performance improvements. We show that while improvements in terms of symbol error rate of up to an order of magnitude are possible in the case of spatial multiplexing, the presence of polarization diversity generally incurs a performance loss for transmit diversity techniques. Finally, we provide simulation results to demonstrate that our estimates closely match the actual symbol error rates.

Performance of multiantenna signaling techniques in the presence of polarization diversity

We introduce a new class of space-time codes called super-orthogonal space-time trellis codes. These codes combine set partitioning and a super set of orthogonal space-time block codes in a systematic way to provide full diversity and improved coding gain over earlier space-time trellis code constructions. We also study the optimality of our set partitioning and provide coding gain analysis. Codes operating at different rates, up to the highest theoretically possible rate, for different number of states can be designed by using our optimal set partitioning. Super-orthogonal space-time trellis codes can provide a tradeoff between rate and coding gain. Simulation results show more than 2-dB improvements over the codes presented in the literature while providing a systematic design methodology.

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Super-orthogonal space-time trellis codes

This article provides a new formulation for the pairwise error probability for any coherently demodulated system in arbitrarily correlated Rayleigh fading. The novelty of the result is that the error probability expression can be described as a function of the eigenvalues of a "signal"-only matrix. We also provide the relationship between the pole location of the characteristic function and the resulting error probability. This result allows us to approximate and bound the desired probability. A new simple bound on the pairwise error probability is derived that is better than the standard Chernoff bound and asymptotically tight with the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to the true probability.

A new view of performance analysis of transmit diversity schemes in correlated Rayleigh fading

Space-time (ST) coding has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance performance of wireless communications in fading environments. Many different ST coding schemes have been proposed to achieve reliable communications in independent fading channels. However, a design of robust ST codes for correlated fading channels has not been addressed. We propose a simple robust ST coding scheme that achieves robust performance over a wide range of fading conditions. The key to achieve robust performance is to formulate code design criteria that are not dependent on the channel correlation statistics. A provably robust scheme can be formulated by concatenating a full-rank ST block code with an outer encoder. We derive several robust code examples via the concatenated orthogonal ST block code and TCM construction. The simulation results show that some traditional ST codes perform poorly, whereas the proposed codes achieve robust performance over a broad range of fading conditions.

Robust space-time codes for correlated Rayleigh fading channels

This paper provides a new formulation for the pair-wise error probability for any coherently demodulated system in flat Rayleigh fading. The novelty of the result is that the resulting error rate expression is a polynomial function of the eigenvalues of a 'signal' matrix. This view also enables a simple new asymptotically tight bound on the pair-wise error probability. Examples of single and multiple transmit antenna systems are considered.

A new view of performance analysis techniques in correlated Rayleigh fading

In this paper, we propose a new technique for constructing improved high-rate space-time codes. The proposed code construction is based on a concatenation of an orthogonal spacetime block code and an outer M-TCM encoder. However, unlike the existing STB-MTCM schemes which are rate-lossy, the proposed construction yields higher-rate space-time codes by expanding the cardinality of the orthogonal space-time block code before concatenating with an outer M-TCM encoder. An advantage of the proposed construction is that the standard techniques for designing a good TCM code, such as the classic set partitioning concept, can be adopted to realize the STB-MTCM designs with large coding gains. We present several design examples of improved full-rate space-time codes for a system with 2 transmit antennas. Simulation results show that the new space-time codes considerably outperform the existing ST-TCM designs. For example, the new 4-state 2-bits/symbol QPSK space-time code performs even better than the original 32-state design, while performance of the new 32-state QPSK code is only 1.5 dB away from the outage probability limit. Moreover, decoding complexity of the proposed M-TCM construction is made reasonably low by exploiting signal orthogonality.

Improved high-rate space-time codes via orthogonality and set partitioning

Owing to their high energy density and low cost, zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are gaining much in popularity. However, in practice, issues with hydrogen evolution, zinc dendrite development, corrosion, and passivation persist. Such drawbacks prove difficult to eradicate completely. To address these difficulties, many techniques have been proposed including inhibitor addition, artificial SEI, and Zn electrode modification. As a result, some researchers believe that using non-proton donor electrolytes or nonaqueous electrolytes can fundamentally solve these problems. Herein, the efforts to apply nonaqueous electrolytes such as organic electrolytes, room-temperature ionic liquids, and deep-eutectic solvents to ZIBs are described. An understanding of the mechanisms of nonaqueous ZIBs (NZIBs) regarding zinc plating/stripping and intercalation/deintercalation is also highlighted. Importantly, research gaps are identified in order to pave the way for future study. In addition, an attempt is made to offer a viewpoint on critical topics as well as a benchmarking and enhancement of NZIB technologies. 

S. Siwamogsatham

Papers

A new view of performance analysis of transmit diversity schemes in correlated Rayleigh fading

Robust space-time codes for correlated Rayleigh fading channels

A new view of performance analysis techniques in correlated Rayleigh fading

Improved high-rate space-time codes via orthogonality and set partitioning

Stability enhancement of zinc‐ion batteries using nonaqueous electrolytes