Complex random matrices and multiple-antenna spectrum sensing

In this paper, we study the eigenvalue-based spectrum sensing techniques for multiple-antenna cognitive radio networks. First, we study the extreme eigenvalue distributions of a complex Wishart matrix and then, in contrast to the asymptotic analysis reported in the literature, we derive the exact distribution of the test statistics of (i) maximum eigenvalue detector (MED) (ii) maximum-minimum eigenvalue (MME) detector and (iii) energy with minimum eigenvalue (EME) detector for finite number of samples (n) and finite number of antennas (m). These distributions are represented by complex hypergeometric functions of matrix argument, which can be expressed in terms of complex zonal polynomials. We also describe the method to compute these complex hypergeometric functions. Based on these exact distribution of the test statistics we find the exact decision thresholds as a function of the desired probability of false-alarms for MED, MME and EME. Simulation results show superior performance compared to the decision thresholds obtained from asymptotic (i.e, n,m → ∞) distributions.