Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces Empowered THz Communication in LEO Satellite Networks

Abstract

The revolution in the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks will bring changes on their communication models and a shift from the classical bent-pipe architectures to more sophisticated networking platforms. Thanks to technological advancements in microelectronics and micro-systems, the terahertz (THz) band has emerged as a strong candidate for inter-satellite links (ISLs) due to its promise of high data rates. Yet, the propagation conditions of the THz band need to be properly modeled and controlled by utilizing reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) to leverage their full potential. In this work, we first provide an assessment of the use of the THz band for ISLs, and quantify the impact of misalignment fading on error performance. Then, in order to compensate for the high path loss associated with high carrier frequencies, and to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), we propose the use of RISs mounted on neighboring satellites to enable signal propagation. Based on a mathematical analysis of the problem, we present the error rate expressions for RIS-assisted ISLs with misalignment fading. Also, numerical results show that RIS can leverage the error rate performance and achievable capacity of THz ISLs.

arXiv commentTo appear in IEEE Access

References in corpus (3)

• Path Loss in Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface-Enabled Channels
• Wideband Channel Estimation for IRS-Aided Systems in the Face of Beam Squint
• Over-the-Air Equalization with Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces

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• Federated Deep Reinforcement Learning for Energy Efficient Multi-Functional RIS-Assisted Low-Earth Orbit Networks
• Experimental Evaluation of Joint Clock Recovery and Equalization for Sub-Terahertz Links
• Performance Analysis of STAR-RIS-Assisted NOMA Wireless Systems with Realistic Indoor Outdoor THz Channel Models