RIS-Assisted Secure Transmission with Artificial Noise: Element Allocation and Measurements

Physical layer security in reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted wireless systems can be improved through coordinated control of signal transmission and RIS configuration. In this work, the base station simultaneously transmits the communication signal (CS) and artificial noise (AN) in the presence of a potential eavesdropper. The RIS is partitioned into two groups of reflecting elements, where a portion enhances the desired CS toward the legitimate receiver, while the remaining elements contribute to AN transmission. Two key parameters govern the system design: a transmit power allocation factor between CS and AN, and an RIS element allocation ratio controlling the partitioning of the reflecting elements. An iterative binary phase optimization strategy is employed to enhance the received signal power at Bob while degrading Eve’s reception. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that proper joint design significantly improves the achievable secrecy capacity.