Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) in Wireless Communication: Applications and Challenges Towards 6G

In this survey, we explore the pivotal role of Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) within the framework of wireless communication, with a special emphasis on its prospective contributions to sixth-generation (6G) systems. Guided by the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector Working Party 5D (ITU-R WP 5D), the International Mobile Telecommunications 2030 (IMT-2030) recommendations for 6G have been initiated, addressing the immediate concerns of spectrum congestion and soaring data rates. This paper not only underscores the potential of OAM in boosting spectral efficiency but also delineates the imminent challenges spanning its generation, transmission, and reception in future wireless communication systems.