Physical-layer security over generalized SIMO multipath fading channels

The present work investigates the physical layer security of wireless communication systems over non-homogeneous fading environments, which are typically encountered in realistic wireless transmission scenarios in the context of conventional and emerging communication systems. This is carried out in the context of a single-input multiple-output system that consists of a single-antenna transmitter, a multi-antenna legitimate receiver, and a multi-antenna active eavesdropper. To this end, novel exact analytic expressions are derived for the corresponding average secrecy capacity, which are corroborated by respective results from computer simulations that verify their validity. Capitalizing on the offered results, the physical layer security is quantified in terms of different parameters. This leads to the development of useful insights on the impact of non-homogeneous fading environment and the number of employed antennas on the achieved physical layer security levels of the considered set up.