The Shannon Information Capacity of an Arbitrary Radiating Surface: An
Electromagnetic Approach
Abstract
Utilizing a crossdisciplinary approach, we explore Shannon
information-theoretic characterizations of the information capacity
limits of generic electromagnetic surfaces intended for possible use in
wireless communication links. Our principal task is to first formulate
at a general and rigorous level the electromagnetic theory of the
information that can be extracted from the Maxwellian fields radiated by
an arbitrarily-shaped continuous surface. This is then followed by a
detailed derivation and illustration of practical physics-informed
algorithms for computing approximations of the Shannon capacity of
surfaces with any given geometry operating in Gaussian (AWGN) channels.
Our formalism can address both near- and far-field information capacity
scenarios, with a mathematical treatment that includes a complete
characterization of the source-field polarization structure, mutual
coupling, and interactions.