Optimal power allocation in NOMA-based two-path successive AF relay systems

Due to the characteristic of transmitting multiplexed signals in superposed mode over the same spectrum, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) technology is deemed as a promising way to improve spectral efficiency in fifth generation (5G) networks. In this paper, we develop a NOMA cooperative system based on the two-path successive relaying concept, in which the data at the source node is divided into two parallel parts and is transmitted to the destination in superposed mode via the assistance of two amplify-and-forward (AF) relays. On the condition that the transmit power of the individual nodes and the entire system are all constrained, the maximization of achievable rate is formulated as an optimization problem. Following the guidelines of Karush-Kuhn-Tucher (KKT) conditions, the dual decomposition method is adopted to obtain the closed-form expressions of the optimal power allocation. Moreover, to balance the achievable rate between two superposed signals, which is equivalent to minimizing the required spectrum bandwidth, a power allocation scheme between the superposed signals is proposed. In order to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed power allocation scheme, we conduct extensive numerical simulation on some realistic system setup. The results demonstrate that our analytical insights about the optimal power allocation are aligned with the simulation outcome.