Binary Genetic Algorithm Assisted Multiuser Detector for STBC MC-CDMA

In this paper we investigate the performance of multiuser detector (MUD) for space time block coded (STBC) multi-carrier code-division multiple-access (MC-CDMA) using binary genetic algorithm (GA). Optimum detection for CDMA based systems, including STBC MC-CDMA, using conventional MUD has a high computational complexity. For K number of users for instance, the computational complexity grows exponentially with K. Although suboptimum detection methods with less complexity are available, they are less powerful than MUD. To achieve the optimality of MUD while avoiding the computational complexity, we propose the use of binary genetic algorithm in the detector. For the evaluation, we simulated STBC MC-CDMA system over a frequency selective rayleigh fading channel. The receiver employs the binary genetic algorithm assisted MUD. For the purpose of comparison, STBC MC-CDMA receiver using equal gain combining (EGC) was simulated as well. The simulation result shows that the system under investigation performed better than STBC MC-CDMA using EGC.