BER analysis of NOMA with max-min relay selection

In contrast with orthogonal multiple access (OMA) technologies, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) technology can achieve higher spectral efficiency and support more users simultaneously. Multiple relays can be deployed in NOMA networks, in order to combat fading and thus increase the transmission reliability. In the existing works on cooperative NOMA networks with multiple relays, the decoding error at the relays and the imperfect successive interference cancellation (SIC) are not taken into account simultaneously. In this work, we consider the bit error rate (BER) analysis of relay-aided NOMA networks, where max-min relay selection is employed. Particularly, closed-form BER expressions are derived for NOMA networks with Rayleigh fading, in the existence of the relay decoding error and imperfect SIC. The asymptotic BER performance is then obtained to provide some useful insights into the system design such as the diversity order. Finally, simulation results illustrate the correctness of the derived expressions. The presented results reveal the effects of imperfect SIC and relay decoding error on the performance of cooperative NOMA networks.