Nonlinear Sparse Bayesian Learning Methods with Application to Massive MIMO Channel Estimation with Hardware Impairments

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Arjas, Arttu, Atzeni, Italo
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Arjas, Arttu
Atzeni, Italo
author_facet Arjas, Arttu
Atzeni, Italo
contents Accurate channel estimation is critical for realizing the performance gains of massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. Traditional approaches to channel estimation typically assume ideal receiver hardware and linear signal models. However, practical receivers suffer from impairments such as nonlinearities in the low-noise amplifiers and quantization errors, which invalidate standard model assumptions and degrade the estimation accuracy. In this work, we propose a nonlinear channel estimation framework that models the distortion function arising from hardware impairments using Gaussian process (GP) regression while leveraging the inherent sparsity of massive MIMO channels. First, we form a GP-based surrogate of the distortion function, employing pseudo-inputs to reduce the computational complexity. Then, we integrate the GP-based surrogate of the distortion function into newly developed enhanced sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) methods, enabling distortion-aware sparse channel estimation. Specifically, we propose two nonlinear SBL methods based on distinct optimization objectives, each offering a different trade-off between estimation accuracy and computational complexity. Numerical results demonstrate significant gains over the Bussgang linear minimum mean squared error estimator and linear SBL, particularly under strong distortion and at high signal-to-noise ratio.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_03775
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Nonlinear Sparse Bayesian Learning Methods with Application to Massive MIMO Channel Estimation with Hardware Impairments
Arjas, Arttu
Atzeni, Italo
Signal Processing
Accurate channel estimation is critical for realizing the performance gains of massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. Traditional approaches to channel estimation typically assume ideal receiver hardware and linear signal models. However, practical receivers suffer from impairments such as nonlinearities in the low-noise amplifiers and quantization errors, which invalidate standard model assumptions and degrade the estimation accuracy. In this work, we propose a nonlinear channel estimation framework that models the distortion function arising from hardware impairments using Gaussian process (GP) regression while leveraging the inherent sparsity of massive MIMO channels. First, we form a GP-based surrogate of the distortion function, employing pseudo-inputs to reduce the computational complexity. Then, we integrate the GP-based surrogate of the distortion function into newly developed enhanced sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) methods, enabling distortion-aware sparse channel estimation. Specifically, we propose two nonlinear SBL methods based on distinct optimization objectives, each offering a different trade-off between estimation accuracy and computational complexity. Numerical results demonstrate significant gains over the Bussgang linear minimum mean squared error estimator and linear SBL, particularly under strong distortion and at high signal-to-noise ratio.
title Nonlinear Sparse Bayesian Learning Methods with Application to Massive MIMO Channel Estimation with Hardware Impairments
topic Signal Processing
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.03775