Non-coherent detection with differential modulation for distributed massive MIMO Systems

Distributed massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO) is a key technology for improving the performance of future wireless communication systems. As an alternative to channel estimation in mMIMO systems, non-coherent detection offers several advantages. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of non-coherent detection for distributed mMIMO systems. We obtain novel expressions for the signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) for differential detection. Building upon a theoretical basis, we show that under non-coherent detection, cooperation is always beneficial in noise-limited conditions. We further investigate scenarios where the gains of cooperation are most evident. We then obtain useful error rate results by deriving expressions for the symbol error probability (SEP) when using differential detection. The results are illustrated by numerical examples and simulations.