Characterizing Inter-Numerology Interference in Mixed-Numerology OFDM Systems

The advent of mixed-numerology multi-carrier (MN-MC) techniques adds flexibilities in supporting heterogeneous services in fifth generation (5G) communication systems and beyond. However, the coexistence of mixed numerologies destroys the orthogonality principle defined for single-numerology orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (SN-OFDM) systems with overlapping subcarriers of uniform subcarrier spacing. Consequently, the loss of orthogonality leads to inter-numerology interference (INI), which complicates signal generation and impedes signal isolation. In this paper, the INI in MN-OFDM systems is characterized through mathematical modeling and is shown to primarily rely on system parameters with regard to the pulse shape, the relative distance between subcarriers and the numerology scaling factor. Reduced-form formulas for the INI in continuous-time and discrete-time MN systems are derived. The derived mathematical framework facilitates the study of the effect of discretization on the INI and partial orthogonality existing in subsets of the subcarriers. The reduced-form formulas can also be used in developing interference metrics and designing mitigation techniques.