Achieving physical layer security with massive MIMO beamforming

Physical layer security allows secure communications between a source and destination without the need to resort to key-based encryption techniques. Its increasing importance stems from the difficulty of implementing advanced encryption techniques in certain networks, such as the internet of things (IoT). In this paper, physical layer security is implemented by using massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) techniques. Specifically, beamforming with large cylindrical antenna arrays is investigated. These arrays allow the transmission of both the useful signal to the destination and the jamming signal to the eavesdropper without resorting to the help of other nodes for relaying the signal and/or jamming the eavesdropper. Simulation results show that high levels of secrecy capacity can be achieved with the proposed approach.