Optimal Dual-Polarized Planar Arrays for Massive Capacity Over Point-to-Point MIMO Channels

Future wireless networks must provide ever higher data rates. The available bandwidth increases roughly linearly as we increase the carrier frequency, but the range shrinks drastically. This paper explores if we can instead reach massive capacities using spatial multiplexing over multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. In line-of-sight (LOS) scenarios, therank of the MIMO channel matrix depends on the polarization and antenna arrangement. We optimize the rank and condition number by identifying the optimal antenna spacing in dual-polarized planar antenna arrays with imperfect isolation. The result is sparely spaced antenna arrays that exploit radiative near-field properties. We further optimize the array geometry for minimum aperture length and aperture area, which leads to different configurations. Moreover, we prove analytically that for fixed-sized arrays, the MIMO rank grows quadratically with the carrier frequency in LOS scenarios, if the antennas are appropriately designed. Hence, MIMO technology contributes more to the capacity growth than the bandwidth. The numerical results show that massive data rates, far beyond 1 Tbps, can be reached both over fixed point-to-point links. It is also possible for a large base station to serve a practically-sized mobile device.

Massive Spatial Multiplexing: Vision, Foundations, and Challenges

In this article, we present our vision for how extremely large aperture arrays (ELAAs), equipped with hundreds or thousands of antennas, can play a major role in future 6G networks by enabling a remarkable increase in data rates through massive spatial multiplexing to both a single user and many simultaneous users. Specifically, with the quantum leap in the array aperture size, the users will be in the so-called radiative near-field region of the array, where previously negligible physical phenomena dominate the propagation conditions and give the channel matrices more favorable properties. This article presents the foundational properties of communication in the radiative near-field region and then exemplifies how these properties enable two unprecedented spatial multiplexing schemes: depth-domain multiplexing of multiple users and angular multiplexing of data streams to a single user. We also highlight research challenges and open problems that require further investigation.

Optimal Geometries of Dual-Polarized Arrays for Large Point-to-Point MIMO Channels

Traditional point-to-point line-of-sight channels have rank 1, irrespective of the number of antennas and array geometries, due to far-field propagation conditions. By contrast, recent papers in the holographic multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) literature characterize the maximum channel rank that can be achieved between two continuous array apertures, which is much larger than 1 under near-field propagation conditions. In this paper, we maximize the channel capacity between two dual-polarized uniform rectangular arrays (URAs) with discrete antenna elements for a given propagation distance. In particular, we derive the antenna spacings that lead to an ideal MIMO channel where all singular values are as similar as possible. We utilize this analytic result to find the two array geometries that respectively minimize the aperture area and the aperture length.