Quantum Speedup for Polar Maximum Likelihood Decoding

Conventional decoding algorithms for polar codes strive to balance achievable performance and computational complexity in classical computing. While maximum likelihood (ML) decoding guarantees optimal performance, its NP-hard nature makes it impractical for real-world systems. In this letter, we propose a novel ML decoding architecture for polar codes based on the Grover adaptive search, a quantum exhaustive search algorithm. Unlike conventional studies, our approach, enabled by a newly formulated objective function, uniquely supports Gray-coded multi-level modulation without expanding the search space size compared to the classical ML decoding. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed quantum decoding achieves ML performance while providing a pure quadratic speedup in query complexity.

Grover Adaptive Search with Spin Variables

This paper presents a novel approach to Grover adaptive search (GAS) for a combinatorial optimization problem whose objective function involves spin variables. While the GAS algorithm with a conventional design of a quantum dictionary subroutine handles a problem associated with an objective function with binary variables $\{0,1\}$, we reformulate the problem using spin variables $\{+1,-1\}$ to simplify the algorithm. Specifically, we introduce a novel quantum dictionary subroutine that is designed for this spin-based formulation. A key benefit of this approach is the substantial reduction in the number of CNOT gates required to construct the quantum circuit. We theoretically demonstrate that, for certain problems, our proposed approach can reduce the gate complexity from an exponential order to a polynomial order, compared to the conventional binary-based approach. This improvement has the potential to enhance the scalability and efficiency of GAS, particularly in larger quantum computations.

Covert Communications Without Pre-Sharing of Side Information and Channel Estimation Over Quasi-Static Fading Channels

We propose a new covert communication scheme that operates without pre-sharing side information and channel estimation, utilizing a Gaussian-distributed Grassmann constellation for noncoherent detection. By designing constant-amplitude symbols on the Grassmann manifold and multiplying them by random variables, we generate signals that follow an arbitrary probability distribution, such as Gaussian or skew-normal distributions. The mathematical property of the manifold enables the transmitter's random variables to remain unshared with the receiver, and the elimination of pilot symbols that could compromise covertness. The proposed scheme achieved higher covertness and achievable rates compared to conventional coherent Gaussian signaling schemes, without any penalty in terms of complexity.

Grover Adaptive Search for Maximum Likelihood Detection of Generalized Spatial Modulation

We propose a quantum-assisted solution for the maximum likelihood detection (MLD) of generalized spatial modulation (GSM) signals. Specifically, the MLD of GSM is first formulated as a novel polynomial optimization problem, followed by the application of a quantum algorithm, namely, the Grover adaptive search. The performance in terms of query complexity of the proposed method is evaluated and compared to the classical alternative via a numerical analysis, which reveals that under fault-tolerant quantum computation, the proposed method outperforms the classical solution if the number of data symbols and the constellation size are relatively large.

Quantum Speedup of the Dispersion and Codebook Design Problems

We propose new formulations of max-sum and max-min dispersion problems that enable solutions via the Grover adaptive search (GAS) quantum algorithm, offering quadratic speedup. Dispersion problems are combinatorial optimization problems classified as NP-hard, which appear often in coding theory and wireless communications applications involving optimal codebook design. In turn, GAS is a quantum exhaustive search algorithm that can be used to implement full-fledged maximum-likelihood optimal solutions. In conventional naive formulations however, it is typical to rely on a binary vector spaces, resulting in search space sizes prohibitive even for GAS. To circumvent this challenge, we instead formulate the search of optimal dispersion problem over Dicke states, an equal superposition of binary vectors with equal Hamming weights, which significantly reduces the search space leading to a simplification of the quantum circuit via the elimination of penalty terms. Additionally, we propose a method to replace distance coefficients with their ranks, contributing to the reduction of the number of qubits. Our analysis demonstrates that as a result of the proposed techniques a reduction in query complexity compared to the conventional GAS using Hadamard transform is achieved, enhancing the feasibility of the quantum-based solution of the dispersion problem.

AFDM Chirp-Permutation-Index Modulation with Quantum-Accelerated Codebook Design

We describe a novel index modulation (IM) scheme exploiting a unique feature of the recently proposed affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM) in doubly-dispersive (DD) channels. Dubbed AFDM chirp-permutation-index modulation (CPIM), the proposed method encodes additional information via the permutation of the discrete affine Fourier Transform (DAFT) chirp sequence, without any sacrifice of the various beneficial properties of the AFDM waveform in DD channels. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated via simulation results leveraging a novel reduced-complexity minimum mean-squared-error (MMSE)-based maximum-likelihood (ML) detector, highlighting the gains over the classical AFDM. As part of the work two interesting problems related to optimizing AFDM-CPIM are identified: the optimal codebook design problem, over a discrete solution space of dimension $\binom{N!}{K}$, where $N$ is the number of subcarriers and $K$ is the number of codewords; and the ML detection problem whose solution space is of dimension $KM^N$, where $M$ is the constellation size. In order to alleviate the computational complexity of these problems and enable large-scale variations of AFDM-CPIM, the two problems are reformulated as a higher-order binary optimization problem and mapped to the well-known quantum Grover adaptive search (GAS) algorithm for their solution.

Boosting Spectral Efficiency with Data-Carrying Reference Signals on the Grassmann Manifold

In wireless networks, frequent reference signal transmission for accurate channel reconstruction may reduce spectral efficiency. To address this issue, we consider to use a data-carrying reference signal (DC-RS) that can simultaneously estimate channel coefficients and transmit data symbols. Here, symbols on the Grassmann manifold are exploited to carry additional data and to assist in channel estimation. Unlike conventional studies, we analyze the channel estimation errors induced by DC-RS and propose an optimization method that improves the channel estimation accuracy without performance penalty. Then, we derive the achievable rate of noncoherent Grassmann constellation assuming discrete inputs in multi-antenna scenarios, as well as that of coherent signaling assuming channel estimation errors modeled by the Gauss-Markov uncertainty. These derivations enable performance evaluation when introducing DC-RS, and suggest excellent potential for boosting spectral efficiency, where interesting crossings with the non-data carrying RS occurred at intermediate signal-to-noise ratios.

On the Capacity of Generalized Quadrature Spatial Modulation

In this letter, the average mutual information (AMI) of generalized quadrature spatial modulation (GQSM) is first derived for continuous-input continuous-output channels. Our mathematical analysis shows that the calculation error induced by Monte Carlo integration increases exponentially with the signal-to-noise ratio. This nature of GQSM is resolved by deriving a closed-form expression. The derived AMI is compared with other related SM schemes and evaluated for different antenna activation patterns. Our results show that an equiprobable antenna selection method slightly decreases AMI of symbols, while the method significantly improves AMI in total.

Optimal but Low-Complexity Optimization Method for Nonsquare Differential Massive MIMO

In this paper, we propose an optimal but low-complexity optimization method for nonsquare differential massive MIMO. While a discrete nonlinear optimization is required for the conventional nonsquare differential coding, we newly modify it to perform a low-complexity continuous linear optimization. This novel method exhibits immediate convergence as compared to the conventional method. Additionally, the proposed differential coding can be regarded as a differential counterpart of the coherent generalized spatial modulation. Our numerical comparisons demonstrate that the proposed method achieves the best coding gain for any number of transmit antennas, although the optimization cost is nearly negligible.

A New Noncoherent Gaussian Signaling Scheme for Low Probability of Detection Communications

We propose a novel, Gaussian signaling mechanism for low probability of detection (LPD) communication systems with either single or multiple antennas. The new scheme is designed to allow the noncoherent detection of Gaussian-distributed signals, enabling LPD communications using signals that follow the complex Gaussian distribution in the time and frequency domains. It is demonstrated via simulations that the proposed scheme achieves better performance than a comparable conventional scheme over the entire SNR region, with the advantage becoming more significant in scenarios with lower overhead.