Security performance analysis for cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output system with multi-antenna access points deployment in presence of active eavesdropping

This article investigates the influence of multiple-antenna deployment at access points on physical layer security under cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output systems. To embody the concept of network multiple-input multiple-output, cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output employs a great deal of geographically distributed access points, which jointly serve multiple users in the same frequency-time resource. Assuming a malicious active eavesdropper having knowledge of instantaneous channel state information, we derive the asymptotic closed-form expression of the achievable secrecy rate, which is used to evaluate network security performance. A distributed power allocation scheme is developed based on channel fading degrees of different users. All of access points distribute a larger proportion of local transmission power to the users with better channel conditions. We verified that the security performance of the multi-antenna access points outperforms that of the single one. Compared to equal power allocation, the proposed power control algorithm can further boost the network security performance.