Modeling and Understanding MIMO Propagation in Tunnels

This paper first presents an application of the modal theory for interpreting experimental results of the electromagnetic field variation along a tunnel. The transmitting frequency is assumed to be high enough so that the tunnel behaves as an oversized waveguide. Then, for a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output channel, theoretical results of the channel capacity are given. To explain the decrease of the capacity at large distance from the transmitter, even by assuming a constant signal to noise ratio, an approach based on the calculation of the eigenvalues of the transfer matrix in a reference scenario is described. Index Terms — MIMO, propagation, information theory, modal theory, measurements.