Optimization of Lens-Based Antenna Arrays Leveraging Optical-mmWave Convergence (ROF) for Simplified Base Stations Enabling Ultra Dense Wireless Networks
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Smith, Lauryn Paige
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Abstract
The ever-increasing demands for higher wireless capacity, enhanced coverage, and support for massive network traffic have driven research towards ultra-dense wireless networks (UDNs). However, realizing truly ultra-dense deployment of base stations is challenging for a variety of reasons. Some of the main inhibitors are the high complexity, power consumption and cost of conventional base stations, which rely on a large number of high-power, bulky, expensive and narrow-band components. These hardware requirements increase both capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX), making large-scale deployment difficult. Beyond this, the continual evolution of wireless standards and addition of spectrum demands flexible architectures, which can be upgraded and reconfigured easily without significant build-out costs.
This thesis presents simplified base-station architectures enabled by optical and millimeter-wave (mmWave) convergence leveraging passive, compact beamforming networks and wideband or multi-band antenna arrays. By centralizing processing and computationally heavy processes at the central office, or hub location, broadband mmWave signals are transmitted via optical fiber to simplified remote radio units (RU). At the RU, only passive, low complexity beamforming hardware, optical-electrical converters (OE) and amplifiers are needed in the downlink, significantly reducing hardware count, size and power consumption demand.
The optical fronthaul is modeled in VPIphotonics TransmissionMaker and simulations were performed. Complementary electromagnetic simulations of the Rotman lens and antenna arrays in CST Microwave Studio verify multi-beam and multi-band/wideband performance. The combined optical-RF simulation framework demonstrates consistent beam steering over multi-band/wideband frequency ranges and effective, transmission of multi-GHz-bandwidth signals over fiber links, within standard limits.
The results confirm that the converged optical/mmWave architecture offers a scalable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective pathway for next-generation networks. By simplifying the radio unit and centralizing complexity, the proposed system lowers CAPEX, OPEX, and network build-out costs while maintaining high throughput and flexibility. This work provides a foundation for future 6G-ready, software-defined, remote-controlled, and reconfigurable radio access networks, addressing the core challenges of capacity, cost, and deployment scalability in ultra-dense wireless environments.
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2025-12
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Text
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Dissertation (PhD)