On the Path-Loss of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces: An Approach Based on Green's Theorem Applied to Vector Fields

F H Danufane (1, 2) , Marco Di Renzo (1, 2, 3) , J de Rosny (4) , S Tretyakov (5)

1 Université Paris-Saclay
2 L2S - Laboratoire des signaux et systèmes
3 CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
4 PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres
5 Aalto University

In this paper, we introduce a physics-based analytical characterization of the free-space path-loss of a wireless link in the presence of a reconfigurable intelligent surface. The proposed approach is based on the vector generalization of Green's theorem. The obtained path-loss model can be applied to two-dimensional homogenized metasurfaces, which are made of sub-wavelength scattering elements and that operate either in reflection or transmission mode. The path-loss is formulated in terms of a computable integral that depends on the transmission distances, the polarization of the radio waves, the size of the surface, and the desired surface transformation. Closed-form expressions are obtained in two asymptotic regimes that are representative of far-field and near-field deployments. Based on the proposed approach, the impact of several design parameters and operating regimes is unveiled.

Mots clés: Smart radio environments; reconfigurable intelligent surfaces; path-loss; Green's theorems

Domaines: Electronique

F H Danufane, Marco Di Renzo, J de Rosny, S Tretyakov. On the Path-Loss of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces: An Approach Based on Green's Theorem Applied to Vector Fields. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 2021, ⟨10.1109/tcomm.2021.3081452⟩. ⟨hal-03358129⟩