Electromagnetic Insights Into Path Loss Modelling of IRS-Assisted SISO Links: Method-Of-Moment Based Analysis

In this paper, we demonstrate the usefulness of MoM (Method-of-Moments) based methods in efficient path-loss modelling for SISO (single-input single-output) communication links assisted by IRS (Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces). Being a full-wave computational electromagnetic tool, MoM is better equipped compared to high-frequency asymptotic methods like PO (Physical Optics), to handle the crucial electromagnetic (EM) effects like: mutual coupling between IRS unit-cells or interactions with spherical wave-front in antenna near-field. Furthermore, in terms of computational speed, accuracy and reproducibility, the MoM-based MATLAB Antenna Toolbox is significantly advantageous to emulate IRS-assisted wireless channels, as compared to the in-house FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) techniques. We consider a SISO system of two half-wavelength dipoles, and use a rectangular array of circular loops loaded with lumped circuit components as IRS. The lumped circuit loading enables us to control the reactance of individual unit-cells, resulting in alteration of IRS reflection coefficient and consequent changes in channel characteristics. Using numerous numerical simulations, we highlight the impacts of various IRS-parameters like: electrical size and number of unit-cells, distance of IRS from the transmitter/receiver as well as mutual coupling, on the path-loss models (both sub-6 GHz and mm-wave).