A simplified channel model for MIMO communications with polarization

Abstract

We present a simple, yet general channel model for MIMO communications with polarization. The channel model is based on covariance matrices and can model a MIMO channel for an arbitrary spatial antenna configuration with arbitrary polarization angles for each antenna element. We also present a method for deriving equivalent spatial transmit and receive covariance matrices that can be used to understand the statistical impacts of the polarization on the channel correlations. This simplified model can be very useful in design work as it is easy to implement and reasonably can capture the most important aspects of the channel.