5G NR Physical Layer Aspects

Abstract 5G New Radio is a wireless access technology that is designed to meet or exceed IMT‐2020 requirements outlined by the ITU‐R for fifth‐generation mobile wireless systems. 5G NR is designed to serve a wide variety of use cases with vastly differing requirements including enhanced mobile broadband, ultrareliable low‐latency communications, and massive machine‐type communications. Important benefits of 5G NR include access to a much larger spectrum range including millimeter‐wave spectrum, ultralean transmissions for better system performance and energy efficiency, low latency, advanced multiantenna techniques for spectral efficiency and coverage in millimeter‐wave spectrum, and forward compatibility for seamless technology evolution. This article focuses on the physical layer of 5G NR including the structure of signals and channels in the time, frequency, and spatial domains; processing of transport and control channels including functions such as modulation, channel coding, and hybrid ARQ; and access and management functions including cell search, synchronization, and beam management.