Using Loaded N-port Structures to Achieve the Continuous-Space Electromagnetic Channel Capacity Bound

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method using loaded N-port structures to design MIMO antennas that reach the theoretical continuous-space electromagnetic channel capacity bounds, applicable to compact antenna designs.

Contribution

It provides a general approach to achieve channel capacity bounds with arbitrary antenna geometries using loaded N-port structures and offers an optimization method for MIMO antenna design.

Findings

Supports at least 18 ports in a 1 sq. wavelength antenna

Achieves continuous-space electromagnetic channel capacity bounds

Demonstrates link between theoretical bounds and practical antenna design

Abstract

A method for achieving the continuous-space electromagnetic channel capacity bound using loaded N-port structures is described. It is relevant for the design of compact multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas that can achieve channel capacity bounds when constrained by size. The method is not restricted to a specific antenna configuration and a closed-form expression for the channel capacity limits are provided with various constraints. Furthermore, using loaded N-port structures to represent arbitrary antenna geometries, an efficient optimization approach is proposed for finding the optimum MIMO antenna design that achieves the channel capacity bounds. Simulation results of the channel capacity bounds achieved using our MIMO antenna design with one square wavelength size are provided. These show that at least 18 ports can be supported in one square wavelength and achieve the continuous-space electromagnetic channel capacity bound. The results demonstrate that our method can link continuous-space electromagnetic channel capacity bounds to MIMO antenna design.