A New Tool: Constructing STBCs from Maximal Orders in Central Simple Algebras

A means to construct dense, full-diversity STBCs from maximal orders in central simple algebras is introduced for the first time. As an example we construct an efficient ST lattice code with non-vanishing determinant for 4 transmit antenna MISO application. Also a general algorithm for testing the maximality of a given order is presented. By using a maximal order instead of just the ring of algebraic integers, the size of the code increases without losses in the minimum determinant. The usage of a proper ideal of a maximal order further improves the code, as the minimum determinant increases. Simulations in a quasi-static Rayleigh fading channel show that our lattice outperforms the DAST-lattice due to the properties described above.