PhD topic
In current wireless networks, the environment is perceived as an uncontrollable entity for communication and information processing. Physical objects significantly alter the propagation of electromagnetic waves producing fading phenomena, due to multi-path propagation, and interference, due to reflections and refractions. Moreover, signals are subjected to attenuation due to absorption losses and to the natural spreading of the power within the space, thus reducing the coverage radius of the base stations.
On this scenario, this thesis aims to investigate new communication paradigms based on the use of reconfigurable metasurfaces.
Metasurfaces are surfaces made of electromagnetic material that are engineered in order to exhibit properties that cannot be found in naturally occurring materials. They are composed by unit-cells called meta-atoms. According to the choice of its materials and of the shape of the metallic pattern, a meta-atom can absorb, reflect or refract the impinging electromagnetic wave and, at the same time, modify its phase, polarization or strength. When many meta-atoms are arranged to form a metasurface, the impinging wave is received simultaneously by all the meta-atoms, each of which performs the operation it has been designed for. By summing the waves reflected or refracted by each meta-atom, each one with its own characteristics, the resulting wave will have different properties, like direction or polarization, with respect to the original wave received by the metasurface. If phase switching components are included in each meta-atom, the behaviour of each meta-atom can be reconfigured to adapt itself to the changing requirements of the surrounding environment.
On this scenario, this thesis aims to investigate new communication paradigms based on the use of reconfigurable metasurfaces.
Metasurfaces are surfaces made of electromagnetic material that are engineered in order to exhibit properties that cannot be found in naturally occurring materials. They are composed by unit-cells called meta-atoms. According to the choice of its materials and of the shape of the metallic pattern, a meta-atom can absorb, reflect or refract the impinging electromagnetic wave and, at the same time, modify its phase, polarization or strength. When many meta-atoms are arranged to form a metasurface, the impinging wave is received simultaneously by all the meta-atoms, each of which performs the operation it has been designed for. By summing the waves reflected or refracted by each meta-atom, each one with its own characteristics, the resulting wave will have different properties, like direction or polarization, with respect to the original wave received by the metasurface. If phase switching components are included in each meta-atom, the behaviour of each meta-atom can be reconfigured to adapt itself to the changing requirements of the surrounding environment.
Research interests |
My research interests are mainly related to:
Metasurfaces
Wireless networks
Millimeter-wave communications
Optical communications
Antennas
Machine learning
Publications
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Address |
Contacts |
Inria Lille – Nord Europe
FUN Team – Office A201 40, Avenue Halley 59650 – Villeneuve d’Ascq, FRANCE |
Email [email protected]
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