A reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is a planar structure that is engineered to dynamically control the electromagnetic waves. In wireless communications, RISs have recently emerged as a promising technology for realizing programmable and reconfigurable wireless propagation environments through nearly passive signal transformations. With the aid of RISs, a wireless environment becomes part of the network design parameters that are subject to optimization. In this tutorial article, we focus our attention on communication models for RISs. First, we review the communication models that are most often employed in wireless communications and networks for analyzing and optimizing RISs and elaborate on their advantages and limitations. Then, we concentrate on models for RISs that are based on inhomogeneous sheets of surface impedance and offer a step-by-step tutorial on formulating electromagnetically consistent analytical models for optimizing the surface impedance. The differences between local and global designs are discussed and analytically formulated in terms of surface power efficiency and reradiated power flux through the Poynting vector. Finally, with the aid of numerical results, we discuss how approximate global designs can be realized by using locally passive RISs with zero electrical resistance (i.e., inhomogeneous reactance boundaries with no local power amplification) even for large angles of reflection and at high power efficiency.

Wireless connectivity is regarded as a fundamental need for our society. Between 2020 and 2030, it is forecast that the data traffic of the global internet protocol will increase by 55% each year, eventually reaching 5016 EB, with data rates scaling up to 1 Tb/s. Besides supporting very high data rates, future wireless networks are expected to offer several other heterogeneous services, which include sensing, localization, low-latency, and ultrareliable communications. Fifth-generation (5G) networks are, however, not designed to meet these requirements. As the demands and needs become more stringent, in fact, fundamental limitations arise, which are ultimately imposed by the inherent nature of the wireless operation.

In this paper, we introduce a physics-consistent analytical characterization of the free-space path-loss of a wireless link in the presence of a reconfigurable intelligent surface. The proposed approach is based on the vector generalization of Green's theorem. The obtained path-loss model can be applied to two-dimensional homogenized metasurfaces, which are made of sub-wavelength scattering elements and that operate either in reflection or transmission mode. The path-loss is formulated in terms of a computable integral that depends on the transmission distances, the polarization of the radio waves, the size of the surface, and the desired surface transformations. Closed-form expressions are obtained in two asymptotic regimes that are representative of far-field and near-field deployments. Based on the proposed approach, the impact of several design parameters and operating regimes is unveiled.

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) are an emerging transmission technology for application to wireless communications. RISs can be realized in different ways, which include (i) large arrays of inexpensive antennas that are usually spaced half of the wavelength apart; and (ii) metamaterial-based planar or conformal large surfaces whose scattering elements have sizes and inter-distances much smaller than the wavelength. Compared with other transmission technologies, e.g., phased arrays, multi-antenna transmitters, and relays, RISs require the largest number of scattering elements, but each of them needs to be backed by the fewest and least costly components. Also, no power amplifiers are usually needed. For these reasons, RISs constitute a promising software-defined architecture that can be realized at reduced cost, size, weight, and power (C-SWaP design), and are regarded as an enabling technology for realizing the emerging concept of smart radio environments (SREs). In this paper, we (i) introduce the emerging research field of RIS-empowered SREs; (ii) overview the most suitable applications of RISs in wireless networks; (iii) present an electromagnetic-based communication-theoretic framework for analyzing and optimizing metamaterial-based RISs; (iv) provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research; and (v) discuss the most important research issues to tackle. Owing to the interdisciplinary essence of RIS-empowered SREs, finally, we put forth the need of reconciling and reuniting C. E. Shannon's mathematical theory of communication with G. Green's and J. C. Maxwell's mathematical theories of electromagnetism for appropriately modeling, analyzing, optimizing, and deploying future wireless networks empowered by RISs.

This tutorial provides an intuitive and concrete description of the phenomena of electromagnetic nonreciprocity that will be useful for readers with engineering or physics backgrounds. The notion of time reversal and its different definitions are discussed with special emphasis on its relationship with the reciprocity concept. Starting from the Onsager reciprocal relations that are generally applicable to many physical processes, we present the derivation of the Lorentz theorem and discuss other implications of reciprocity for electromagnetic systems. Next, we identify all possible routes toward engineering nonreciprocal devices and analyze three of them in detail, based on external bias and on nonlinear and time-variant systems. The principles of the operation of different nonreciprocal devices are explained. We address the similarity and fundamental difference between nonreciprocal effects and asymmetric transmission in reciprocal systems. In addition to the tutorial description of the topic, this article also contains the original findings. In particular, the general classification of reciprocal and nonreciprocal phenomena in linear bianisotropic media based on the space- and time-reversal symmetries is presented. This classification serves as a powerful tool for drawing analogies between seemingly distinct effects having the same physical origin and can be used for predicting novel electromagnetic phenomena. Furthermore, electromagnetic reciprocity theorem for time-varying systems is derived, and its applicability is discussed.

Metasurfaces, ultrathin and planar electromagnetic devices with sub-wavelength unit cells, have recently attracted enormous attention for their powerful control over electromagnetic waves, from microwave to visible range. With tunability added to the unit cells, the programmable metasurfaces enable us to benefit from multiple unique functionalities controlled by external stimuli. In this review paper, we will discuss the recent progress in the field of programmable metasurfaces and elaborate on different approaches to realize them, with the tunability from global aspects, to local aspects, and to software-defined metasurfaces.

Tunable metasurfaces are ultra-thin, artificial electromagnetic components that provide engineered and externally adjustable functionalities. The programmable metasurface, the HyperSurFace, concept consists in integrating controllers within the metasurface that interact locally and communicate globally to obtain a given electromagnetic behaviour. Here, we address the design constraints introduced by both functions accommodated by the programmable metasurface, i.e., the desired metasurface operation and the unit cells wireless communication enabling such programmable functionality. The design process for meeting both sets of specifications is thoroughly discussed. Two scenarios for wireless intercell communication are proposed. The first exploits the metasurface layer itself, while the second employs a dedicated communication layer beneath the metasurface backplane. Complexity and performance trade-offs are highlighted.

Electromagnetic cloaking, or, in other words, techniques making objects “invisible” to the electromagnetic radiation, has attracted much attention in the last few years. Several different concepts have been proposed and studied analytically, numerically, and even experimentally. To make objects, especially strong scatterers, invisible to the impinging electromagnetic radiation is not an easy task. In this paper, we explain how the concept of transmission-line metamaterials, developed in the beginning of the 21st century, can be used in the creation of a special class of electromagnetic cloaking devices. We also make an overview of other approaches to electromagnetic cloaking.