Low Complexity MRC Detection of IRS-Aided Single User MIMO-OTFS

Abstract

This paper presents a novel detection strategy for Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS)-aided single user Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems utilizing Orthogonal Time Frequency Space (OTFS) modulation, tailored to operate effectively under hardware constraints such as Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO). The proposed method employs Maximum Ratio Combining (MRC) to enhance signal quality by mitigating multipath fading and inter-antenna interference. A notable feature of this detection strategy is its low computational complexity, which makes it highly practical for real-time applications in dynamic wireless environments. Designed for low computational complexity, this detection scheme significantly improves the performance of IRS-aided MIMO-OTFS systems. Simulation results demonstrate the superior capabilities of the proposed approach, as IRS-aided single-user MIMO-OTFS systems with MRC detection consistently outperform traditional detection methods. These findings highlight the transformative potential of integrating IRS and OTFS to advance the next generation of wireless communication systems.