Secrecy Rate Maximization in Multi-IRS Millimeter Wave Networks

Abstract: This paper investigates the problem of increasing the security at the physical layer of a Millimeter Wave (mmWave) network equipped with several Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRSs). In this network, multiple IRSs help the Base Station (BS) to reach the signal to the desired user and at the same time maintain the security of the network i.e. securing the signal from receiving by the unallowable eavesdropper. The target of the proposed scheme is to maximize the secrecy rate by jointly optimizing the active beamforming at the BS and passive beamforming at the IRSs. This leads to a non-convex optimization problem which we solve by decomposing into two sub-problems. The sub-problems alternatively solve the active and passive beamforming design problems using the Semi-Definite Relaxation (SDR) technique. Finally, simulations are done to assess the performance of the proposed algorithm. These results show the superiority of using multiple IRSs in the enhancement of the secrecy rate in the wireless networks that operate in the mmWave frequency bands.