We consider multiple-antenna signal detection of primary user transmission
signals by a secondary user receiver in cognitive radio networks. The optimal
detector is analyzed for the scenario where the number of primary user signals
is no less than the number of receive antennas at the secondary user. We first
derive exact expressions for the moments of the generalized likelihood ratio
test (GLRT) statistic, yielding approximations for the false alarm and
detection probabilities. We then show that the normalized GLRT statistic
converges in distribution to a Gaussian random variable when the number of
antennas and observations grow large at the same rate. Further, using results
from large random matrix theory, we derive expressions to compute the detection
probability without explicit knowledge of the channel, and then particularize
these expressions for two scenarios of practical interest: 1) a single primary
user sending spatially multiplexed signals, and 2) multiple spatially
distributed primary users. Our analytical results are finally used to obtain
simple design rules for the signal detection threshold.Comment: Revised version (14 pages). Change in titl
