Programmable wave-domain computing in wireless communications

Future wireless networks must achieve large gains in data rate, energy efficiency and latency while integrating sensing and computation. Programmable wave-domain computing (pWDC), which processes signals directly through reconfigurable wavematter interactions, offers a way to offload part of this burden from electronic processors. In this Perspective, we review historical roots and recent work on pWDC and discuss its promise and challenges. We focus on three challenges: prototype-aware runtime optimization of pWDC hardware, enriching functionalities beyond linear continuouswave operation, and integrating pWDC into network-level resource management. Finally, we outline open questions regarding expressivity, practicality, and security that will arise in the transition of pWDC to real-life deployment in future wireless infrastructures.