References & Further Reading

References

H. Q. Ngo, A. Ashikhmin, H. Yang, E. G. Larsson, and T. L. Marzetta, Cell-Free Massive MIMO Versus Small Cells, 2017
The founding cell-free massive MIMO paper. Derives achievable rates under conjugate beamforming and introduces max-min fair power control. The 95%-likely rate comparison with small cells is the benchmark reproduced in Section 15.2.
O. T. Demir, E. Bjornson, and L. Sanguinetti, Foundations of User-Centric Cell-Free Massive MIMO, 2021
The definitive monograph on cell-free massive MIMO. Chapters 5-7 derive the SE expressions under all four cooperation levels and provide the energy efficiency framework used in Sections 15.1 and 15.4.
E. Bjornson and L. Sanguinetti, Scalable Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems, 2020
Defines the scalability framework and the user-centric clustering approach. The LLSF clustering algorithm and the bounded per-AP complexity model are central to the practical SE analysis in Sections 15.1-15.3.
H. Q. Ngo, G. Caire, A. Ashikhmin, and E. G. Larsson, Ultra-Dense Cell-Free Massive MIMO for 6G, 2024
CommIT contribution: invited overview of ultra-dense cell-free deployment for 6G. Covers AP density optimization, fronthaul architecture, energy efficiency, and the convergence of cell-free with O-RAN. The primary reference for Section 15.5.
E. Bjornson, J. Hoydis, and L. Sanguinetti, Massive MIMO Networks: Spectral, Energy, and Hardware Efficiency, 2017
Comprehensive massive MIMO monograph. Chapter 5 derives the energy efficiency framework and power consumption model that we adapt for cell-free systems in Section 15.4.
G. Interdonato, E. Bjornson, H. Q. Ngo, P. Frenger, and E. G. Larsson, Ubiquitous Cell-Free Massive MIMO Communications, 2019
Tutorial and survey covering the full cell-free system model, pilot assignment, power control, and deployment considerations. The practical deployment discussion informs Section 15.5.
S. Buzzi and C. D'Andrea, Cell-Free Massive MIMO: User-Centric Approach, 2017
One of the first user-centric cell-free papers. The SE analysis under user-centric clustering informs the comparison framework in Section 15.2.
I. Atzeni, B. Gouda, and E. Bjornson, Distributed Precoding Design via Over-the-Air Signaling, 2021
Proposes distributed precoding for cell-free systems that avoids centralized processing. The over-the-air signaling scheme provides a practical alternative to fronthaul-intensive centralized MMSE.
T. L. Marzetta, E. G. Larsson, H. Yang, and H. Q. Ngo, Fundamentals of Massive MIMO, Cambridge University Press, 2016
The first massive MIMO textbook. Chapters 3-4 on achievable rates and power scaling laws provide the baseline against which cell-free performance is measured.
Z. Chen and E. Bjornson, Channel Hardening and Favorable Propagation in Cell-Free Massive MIMO with Stochastic Geometry, 2018
Stochastic geometry analysis of channel hardening and favorable propagation in cell-free networks. Validates the UatF bound under random AP placement.
F. Gottsch, G. Li, and G. Caire, Joint Fronthaul Load Balancing and Computation Resource Allocation, 2023
CommIT contribution on fronthaul-aware resource allocation for cell-free systems. The power consumption model and fronthaul load balancing inform the energy efficiency analysis in Section 15.4.
E. Bjornson and L. Sanguinetti, Making Cell-Free Massive MIMO Competitive with MMSE Processing and Centralized Implementation, 2020
Demonstrates that MMSE processing dramatically improves cell-free SE over conjugate beamforming. Introduces the Level 1-4 cooperation framework used throughout this chapter.