Programmable radio-frequency calculations in electromagnetic-wave domain

Shao Nan Chen; Zhan Ye Chen; Si Ran Wang; Bi Rui; Jin Feng Kang; Zheng Xing Wang; Zhen Jie Qi; Lijie Wu; Hui Dong Li; Jun Yan Dai; Qiang Cheng; Tie Jun Cui

arXiv · 2601.07213

Programmable radio-frequency calculations in electromagnetic-wave domain

Shao Nan Chen·Zhan Ye Chen·Si Ran Wang·Bi Rui·Jin Feng Kang·Zheng Xing Wang·Zhen Jie Qi·Lijie Wu·Hui Dong Li·Jun Yan Dai·Qiang Cheng·Tie Jun Cui

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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.

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Shao Nan Chen, Zhan Ye Chen, Si Ran Wang, Bi Rui, Jin Feng Kang, Zheng Xing Wang, Zhen Jie Qi, Lijie Wu, Hui Dong Li, Jun Yan Dai, Qiang Cheng, Tie Jun Cui. 2026-01-12. Programmable radio-frequency calculations in electromagnetic-wave domain. https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.07213

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