Optimal power allocation for underground selective channel at 60 GHz

In this paper, we are interested in evaluating the capacity of an underground mine channel in the millimeter wave band. Using a vector network analyzer (VNA) and three carefully chosen antennas, one omni and two horn antennas, we performed measurements at 40 m and 70 m levels in the CANMET mine located in Val-d´Or, Canada. This mine has tunnels with a width varying between 2.5 and 4 m and a height varying between 3 and 4 m. Our work uses data for propagation in an underground mine obtained using a different setup from what was used previously. With both uniform and optimal power spectrum allocation (UPSA, OPSA) at the transmitter side, we have computed the capacity of the channel based on the measurements. By using optimal power allocation, we take into account the fading characteristics of the channel. The results prove that the capacity gain depends on the multipath characteristics. Also, they show the pertinence of the optimal power spectrum allocation for this type of channel.