LoS MIMO-Arrays vs. LoS MIMO-Surfaces

TL;DR

This paper compares different design options for achieving high-rank spatial multiplexing in line-of-sight channels at sub-terahertz frequencies, considering the effects of wave curvature and aperture size.

Contribution

It provides an overview and comparison of design strategies for high-rank LoS MIMO systems using arrays and surfaces at sub-terahertz frequencies.

Findings

Analysis of wave curvature effects on MIMO performance

Comparison of array and surface-based MIMO designs

Insights into design trade-offs for high-rank LoS MIMO

Abstract

The wireless research community has expressed major interest in the sub-terahertz band for enabling mobile communications in future wireless networks. The sub-terahertz band offers a large amount of available bandwidth and, therefore, the promise to realize wireless communications at optical speeds. At such high frequency bands, the transceivers need to have larger apertures and need to be deployed more densely than at lower frequency bands. These factors proportionally increase the far-field limit and the spherical curvature of the electromagnetic waves cannot be ignored anymore. This offers the opportunity to realize spatial multiplexing even in line-of-sight channels. In this paper, we overview and compare existing design options to realize high-rank transmissions in line-of-sight channels.