Quantum mechanics

Optical link

Algorithm

Gaussian

Engineering

Statistics

Optical fiber

Backscatter (email)

Telecommunications

Computer science

Probability distribution

Computer network

Physics

Link (geometry)

Mathematics

Electronic engineering

Combinatorics

Channel (broadcasting)

Topology (electrical circuits)

Wireless

Link level

IEEE Communications Letters

This letter considers integrating a backscatter link with a reconfigurable intelligent surface to enhance backscatter communication while assisting the direct communication. We derive the probability that the backscatter channel dominates in the composite channel. This probability is a useful performance measure to determine the number of reflectors. Since the exact probability lacks a closed-form solution, we develop two approximations by modeling the gain of the backscatter link with a Gaussian or Gamma distribution. We found that these approximations match well with the exact value. Importantly, with a well-designed number of reflectors, the channel gain of the backscatter link may be always stronger than that of the direct one.

Is Backscatter Link Stronger than Direct Link in Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface-Assisted System?