Semi-Blind Channel Estimation and Hybrid Receiver Beamforming in the Tera-Hertz Multi-User Massive MIMO Uplink

We develop a pragmatic multi-user (MU) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channel model tailored to the THz band, encompassing factors such as molecular absorption, reflection losses and multipath diffused ray components. Next, we propose a novel semi-blind based channel state information (CSI) acquisition technique i.e. MU whitening decorrelation semi-blind (MU-WD-SB) that exploits the second order statistics corresponding to the unknown data symbols along with pilot vectors. A constrained Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (C-CRLB) is derived to bound the normalized mean square error (NMSE) performance of the proposed semi-blind learning technique. Our proposed scheme efficiently reduces the training overheads while enhancing the overall accuracy of the channel learning process. Furthermore, a novel hybrid receiver combiner framework is devised for MU THz massive MIMO systems, leveraging multiple measurement vector based sparse Bayesian learning (MMV-SBL) that relies on the estimated CSI acquired through our proposed semi-blind technique relying on low resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Finally, we propose an optimal hybrid combiner based on MMV-SBL, which directly reduces the MU interference. Extensive simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance gain of the proposed MU-WD-SB scheme over conventional training-based and other semi-blind learning techniques for a practical THz channel obtained from the high-resolution transmission (HITRAN) database. The metrics considered for quantifying the improvements include the NMSE, bit error rate (BER) and spectral-efficiency (SE).

Terahertz Beamforming and Group Sparse Channel Estimation Relying on Low-Resolution ADCs in MU Hybrid MIMO systems

A unified beamforming and channel estimation framework relying on Bayesian learning is conceived. Recognizing the limitations imposed by low-resolution analog-to-digital converter (ADCs) and frequency-dependent propagation effects occurring in the Terahertz (THz) band, we formulate a dual-wideband channel model incorporating root raised cosine (RRC) pulse shaping. To address the non-linear distortions introduced by low-resolution ADCs, Bussgang decomposition is employed, leading to a tractable linearized inference process. By leveraging the shared sparsity inherent in a multi-user (MU) scenario of THz systems, we propose a Hierarchical Bayesian Group-sparse Regression (HBG-SR) based channel learning technique that exploits the group-sparse structure of THz band channels. The estimated dominant angle-of-arrival/ angle-of-departure (AoA/AoD) indices are then exploited for appropriately configuring the true-time-delay (TTD) elements in the hybrid transceiver, enabling precise beam alignment across subcarriers and the effective compensation of the beam-squint effect occurring in wideband THz systems. Extensive simulation results validate the efficiency of the proposed channel estimator and the TTD-aided beamforming architecture, highlighting their robustness and performance gains under practical wideband THz system constraints.