Near-Field Communication Techniques for Large-Scale MIMO Systems
Summary
Large-scale multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems are set to transform wireless networks by exploiting extremely large antenna arrays that bring intended receivers into the radiative near-field region. In this regime, classical far-field approximations break down and spherical-wave propagation, finite beam depth and spatial non-stationarity must be taken into account. These phenomena enable fine-grained beamfocusing, enhanced spatial multiplexing and novel sensing or localisation capabilities, but also pose challenges in channel modelling, estimation, hardware complexity and computational cost. Applications span from terahertz ultra-massive MIMO for sixth-generation networks to integrated sensing and communication, secure transmissions and wireless power transfer. A thorough understanding of near-field channel characteristics and efficient signal-processing frameworks is essential to unlock the full potential of next-generation wireless infrastructure.
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Near-Field Communication Techniques for Large-Scale MIMO Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in near-field communication techniques for large-scale mimo systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Radiative near-field (Fresnel region): the region close to a large antenna array where spherical-wave effects and reactive field components cannot be neglected.
Uniform spherical wave (USW) model: a channel model assuming equal curvature of wavefronts across the array aperture, applicable when the array is electrically large but receiver distances vary little.
Non-uniform spherical wave (NUSW) model: a generalised channel model capturing spatial variation of spherical wave curvature over the array.
Beamfocusing: the process of steering and shaping an electromagnetic beam to concentrate energy at a specific near-field location, enhancing signal strength and spatial resolution.
Channel estimation: algorithms and techniques used to infer the propagation characteristics of the wireless channel for adaptive beamforming and signal detection.
Spatial multiplexing: a transmission scheme that sends multiple independent data streams simultaneously over different spatial channels made available by the antenna array.
References
- An Adaptive and Robust Deep Learning Framework for THz Ultra-Massive MIMO Channel Estimation. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processing (2023).
- Near-Field Communications: A Tutorial Review. IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society (2023).
- Finite Beam Depth Analysis for Large Arrays. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications (2024).
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