Reconfigurable Holographic Surfaces for Ultra-Massive MIMO in 6G: Practical Design, Optimization and Implementation

Ruoqi Deng, Yutong Zhang, Haobo Zhang, Boya Di, Hongliang Zhang, H. Vincent Poor, Lingyang Song

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ultra-massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) is expected to be one of the key enablers in the forthcoming 6G networks to handle various user demands by exploiting spatial diversity. In this paper, a new paradigm termed holographic radio is considered for ultra-massive MIMO via integrating numerous antenna elements into a compact space, thereby achieving a spatially quasi-continuous aperture and realizing high beampattern gain. We propose a practical path to implement holographic radio by a novel metasurface-based antenna called a reconfigurable holographic surface (RHS). Specifically, the RHS is capable of holographic beamforming over the spatially quasi-continuous apertures by incorporating densely packed tunable metamaterial elements with low power consumption. To enhance the performance of the RHS as an antenna array for achieving ultra-massive MIMO, a holographic beamforming optimization algorithm is developed for beampattern gain maximization based on the hardware design and full-wave analyses of RHSs. We then implement a prototype of an RHS and build an RHS-aided communication platform to further substantiate the feasibility of RHS-enabled holographic radio. Both simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed holographic beamforming optimization algorithm. It is also proved that the RHS-aided communication platform is capable of supporting real-time transmission of high-definition video.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2367-2379
Number of pages13
JournalIEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications
Volume41
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2023
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

  • Holographic radio
  • beampattern gain maximization
  • reconfigurable holographic surface

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