Joint Equalization and Phase Noise Estimation for the Uplink in Massive MIMO SC-FDE Schemes

In this paper we consider the use of massive multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) combined with single-carrier with frequency-domain equalization (SC-FDE) modulations for the uplink, where phase noise occurs both at the receiver and the transmitter. To cope with the channel and the phase noise effects, we propose a receiver structure for joint equalization and phase noise estimation using low-complexity iterative frequency-domain equalization based on the equal gain combining (EGC) concept for the channel equalization allied to a particle filter for the phase noise estimation procedure. Since the equalization step decouples the data streams, the complexity of the phase noise estimation step grows linearly with the number of transmit antennas. In fact, phase noise estimation occurs concurrently for each receive antenna phase noise process. Assuming small phase noise levels at the receiver (i.e., the base station) while letting the phase noise levels take larger values at the transmitter the proposed scheme displays excellent performance.