Software-Defined Metasurface Paradigm: Concept, Challenges, Prospects

TL;DR

This paper introduces the hyperSurface (HSF) paradigm, a software-driven metasurface technology that enables programmable electromagnetic behavior through integrated nanonetworks, discussing its components, challenges, and future potential.

Contribution

It presents the comprehensive concept of hyperSurfaces, detailing their architecture, components, and the challenges involved in developing programmable metasurfaces.

Findings

Identification of key components of HSFs

Discussion of technical challenges in implementation

Outline of future research directions

Abstract

HyperSurfaces (HSFs) are devices whose electromagnetic (EM) behavior is software-driven, i.e., it can be defined programmatically. The key components of this emerging technology are the metasurfaces, artificial layered materials whose EM properties depend on their internal subwavelength structuring. HSFs merge metasurfaces with a network of miniaturized custom electronic controllers, the nanonetwork, in an integrated scalable hardware platform. The nanonetwork receives external programmatic commands expressing the desired end-functionality and appropriately alters the metasurface configuration thus yielding the respective EM behavior for the HSF. In this work, we will present all the components of the HSF paradigm, as well as highlight the underlying challenges and future prospects.