Pointing Error Modeling of mmWave to THz High-Directional Antenna Arrays

This letter focuses on providing an analytical framework for the quantification and evaluation of the pointing error at high-frequency millimeter wave (mmWave) and terahertz (THz) communication links. For this aim, we first characterize the channel of a point-to-point communication link between unstable transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) and then, we derive the probability density function (PDF) and cumulative distribution functions (CDF) of the pointing error in the presence of unstable Tx and Rx as a function of the antennas' pattern. Specifically, for the standard array antenna, a closed-form expression is provided for the PDF of the pointing error, which is a function of the number of antenna elements. Moreover, a more tractable approximate model is provided for the CDF and PDF of pointing error. In addition, using alpha - mu distribution, which is a common model for small-scale fading of THz links, the end-to-end PDF of the considered channel is derived and used to calculate the outage probability of the considered system. Finally, by employing Monte-Carlo simulations, the accuracy of the analytical expressions is verified and the performance of the system is studied.

Automated summary

This letter provides an analytical framework for quantifying and evaluating pointing errors in high-frequency millimeter wave and terahertz communication links. The channel of a point-to-point communication link between unstable transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) is characterized, and the probability density function (PDF) and cumulative distribution functions (CDF) of the pointing error are derived as a function of the antennas' pattern. The accuracy of the analytical expressions is verified through Monte-Carlo simulations, and the system performance is studied.