Holographic Communication using Intelligent Surfaces

TL;DR

This paper explores holographic communication using large intelligent surfaces, emphasizing the need to revise traditional models for near-field spherical wave propagation to unlock new communication channels.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of using large intelligent surfaces with metamaterials for holographic communication and highlights the importance of modeling spherical wave propagation in the Fresnel region.

Findings

Traditional propagation models are insufficient for large near-field surfaces.

Revising models to spherical wave propagation enables more orthogonal channels.

Large intelligent surfaces can significantly enhance holographic communication capabilities.

Abstract

Holographic communication is intended as an holistic way to manipulate with unprecedented flexibility the electromagnetic field generated or sensed by an antenna. This is of particular interest when using large antennas at high frequency (e.g., the millimeter wave or terahertz), whose operating condition may easily fall in the Fresnel propagation region (radiating near-field), where the classical plane wave propagation assumption is no longer valid. This paper analyzes the optimal communication involving large intelligent surfaces, realized for example with metamaterials as possible enabling technology for holographic communication. It is shown that traditional propagation models must be revised and that, when exploiting spherical wave propagation in the Fresnel region with large surfaces, new opportunities are opened, for example, in terms of the number of orthogonal communication channels.