WS-13: 2nd Workshop on Near-Field Communications, Localization, and Sensing

Scope

The use of extremely large-scale (XL) antenna arrays and the availability of high-frequency spectrum bands, e.g., at millimeter-waves (mmWave) and Terahertz (THz), are regarded as two key physical-layer technologies for 6G networks. XL antenna arrays, deploying hundreds, or even thousands, of antenna elements at base stations or of reflecting elements at reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs), can significantly improve performance (e.g., spectral efficiency). The envisioned deployment of XL antenna arrays in future 6G networks, especially in high-frequency bands, will likely lead to wireless operations in the radiating near-field (Fresnel) region, as opposed to conventional wireless systems, typically operating in the far-field region. Different from the far-field case, where plane wave propagation holds, in the radiating near-field region, the wavefront is curve providing additional information and degrees-of-freedom that can be leveraged for enhancing wireless operations.

In radiating near-field environments, the classic theories of multi-antenna communications and localization, which have been derived based on the assumption of far-field plane waves, may be invalid, thus, need to be carefully revised. In addition, the near-field operation brings many benefits to localization and communication, e.g., enhancing the signal strength of target receivers or providing a new degree of freedom (in both the angle and distance domains) to control multi-user interference. The goal of this workshop is to attract researchers to share their latest contributions and discuss new opportunities and challenges arising from near-field communications, localization, and sensing. The focus will be on scientific advances in innovative schemes and algorithms for communications, localization, and sensing, either individually or in integrated manners (a la the integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) manner), as well as their potential applications.