[论文解读] Programmable radio-frequency calculations in electromagnetic-wave domain

Shao Nan Chen, Zhan Ye Chen+10 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jan 12, 2026

Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications被引用 0

一句话总结

该论文提出一种时空编码 metasurface (STCM) 在电磁空间内执行直接射频计算，使在电磁域实现傅里叶变换和卷积，以用于射频信号处理。

ABSTRACT

Information metasurfaces have emerged as pivotal components in next-generation electronic systems, with significant progress in their applications to communication, radar, and sensing. However, the current researches are mainly focused on their physical structures and system functions, while radio-frequency (RF) signal processing and calculation remain constrained to digital-domain operations. This reliance on digital conversion inherently increases hardware complexity and power consumption. To address this challenge, we propose a programmable RF calculation system based on a space-time-coding metasurface (STCM), which can control the wave-matter interactions through space-time-coding (STC) strategies and achieve direct RF calculations in the electromagnetic (EM) space in a reprogrammable way. Particularly, the fundamental signal operations - Fourier transform and convolution - are implemented in the EM-wave domain successfully. We validate the RF calculation capabilities in radar scenarios, facilitating the accurate detection of target velocity and range. Theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and experimental results collectively demonstrate that the STCM-based RF calculation system exhibits superior precision, enhanced operational efficiency, and notable cost-effectiveness, highlighting its significant potentials for the next-generation electronic system deployments.

研究动机与目标

• 降低数字转换以降低射频信号处理中硬件复杂度和功耗的动机。
• 引入基于时空编码 metasurface (STCM) 的可编程射频计算系统。
• 展示在电磁域直接进行射频计算，特别是傅里叶变换和卷积。
• 通过理论、仿真和雷达场景的实验结果验证该方法。

提出的方法

• 开发可编程的 STCM，通过时空编码策略控制波与物质的相互作用。
• 在电磁波域直接实现傅里叶变换和卷积运算。
• 提供理论分析以支持基于 STCM 的射频计算。
• 进行数值仿真以验证性能。
• 开展实验以在雷达场景中演示射频计算能力。

实验结果

研究问题

• RQ1 时空编码的 metasurface 是否能够直接在电磁域实现如傅里叶变换和卷积等基本射频运算？
• RQ2 将射频计算从数字转移到电磁空间能带来哪些精度、效率和成本方面的提升？
• RQ3 在实际雷达场景下，基于 STCM 的射频计算在目标速度与距离检测方面的性能如何？
• RQ4 有哪些理论和实验结果支持基于 STCM 的射频计算？

主要发现

• STCM 能在电磁空间直接实现射频域的傅里叶变换和卷积。
• 该方法在射频计算中表现出高精度并提高了运行效率。
• 实验结果与数值仿真及理论相互印证。
• 该系统显示出对下一代电子系统的潜在成本效益。