Physical Layer Security in Multi-Antenna Cellular Systems: Joint Optimization of Feedback Rate and Power Allocation

This paper comprehensively studies the physical layer security in frequency division duplex multi-antenna cellular systems, where the multi-antenna base stations (BSs), legitimate users (LUs), and eavesdroppers are all randomly located. Each BS employs artificial-noise (AN)-aided multi-user linear beamforming with limited channel state information feedback. Based on the stochastic geometry theory, we first derive an analytical expression of a lower bound on the ergodic secrecy rate (ESR) of the typical LU without assuming asymptotes for any system parameter. We then develop a tight closed-form approximation on the optimal number of feedback bits to maximize a lower bound on the per-user net ESR, which takes into consideration the cost of uplink spectral efficiency for limited feedback. Moreover, the power allocation coefficient between message-bearing signals and AN can be optimized by using a bisection search method. Our main finding is that, the optimum number of feedback bits scales linearly with the path-loss exponent and the number of antennas, and scales logarithmically with the channel coherence time. The derived analytical results can also provide system-level insights into the ESR performance of the multi-antenna random cellular networks with limited feedback and the optimal system design. Numerical results are also presented to verify the obtained results.

Automated summary

This paper comprehensively studies the physical layer security in frequency division duplex multi-antenna cellular systems. The main findings include an analytical expression for the lower bound on the ergodic secrecy rate (ESR), a closed-form approximation for the optimal number of feedback bits, and insights into the power allocation coefficient. Numerical results are also presented to verify the obtained results.