Physical limits of point-to-point communication systems

Bhanukiran Perabathini (1) , Vineeth S. Varma (2) , Mérouane Debbah (3) , Marios Kountouris (3) , Alberto Conte (1)

1 Alcatel Lucent Bell Labs
2 L2S - Laboratoire des signaux et systèmes
3 Chaire Radio Flexible - Chaire Radio Flexible Alcatel-Lucent/Supélec

—In this paper, we explore the physical limits of suc-cessful information transfer in a point-to-point communication system. In interest of studying the fundamental limits imposed by physics on communication systems in general, we model a simple generic system that enables us to make some basic inquiries about the energy efficiency in information transfer and processing. We use ideas from thermodynamics such as Szilard engine to represent information bits. We further use ideas from electromagnetic theory for transfer of information, and information theory to define the energy efficiency metric. We find the upper limit of this efficiency and conditions at which it can be achieved.

Domaines: Informatique [cs]; Mathématiques [math]; Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]

Bhanukiran Perabathini, Vineeth S. Varma, Mérouane Debbah, Marios Kountouris, Alberto Conte. Physical limits of point-to-point communication systems. Workshop on Physics-Inspired Paradigms in Wireless Communications and Networks, co-located with WiOpt 2014, May 2014, Hammamet, Tunisia. pp.604 - 610, ⟨10.1109/WIOPT.2014.6850354⟩. ⟨hal-01098931⟩