The impact of intentional interference on the performances of ML detector in MIMO systems

Here we address the problem of performing the resilience of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) architecture against intentional and unintentional interferences. We investigate the performance of a non-linear receiver based on the Maximum Likelihood (ML) detector in MIMO systems over Gaussian fading channels in the presence of interfering signals. Using the properties of the Gaussian matrix, a finite expression of the Probability Density Function (PDF) for the Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) is obtained as a function of the brute jammer power budget and the number of affected antennas. By considering a particular closed-form of intelligent jamming strategies against MIMO architecture presented in the literature, approximated upper limits of the Bit Error Rate (BER) are performed under different jamming scenarios depending on the Channel State Information (CSI) availability. These results enable us to characterize the consequences of such conflicting attacks on the quality of the legitimate link. Furthermore, extensive simulations are carried out to justify the performance of the ML detector and validate the obtained results.