Reduced complexity MMSE detection for BLAST architectures

Theoretical and experimental studies have shown that layered space-time architectures like the BLAST system can exploit the capacity advantage of multiple antenna systems in rich-scattering environments. In this paper, we present a new efficient algorithm for detecting such architectures with respect to the MMSE criterion. This algorithm utilizes a sorted QR decomposition of the channel matrix and leads to a simple successive detection structure. The algorithm needs only a fraction of computational effort compared to the standard V-BLAST algorithm and achieves the same bit error performance.