Distance-aware multi-carrier indoor terahertz communications with antenna array selection

In the development of terahertz (THz) communication systems, the nanoantenna is the most significant component. Especially, the focus is to design highly directive antennas, because it enhances the performance of the overall system by compensating the large path loss at THz and thus improves the signal-to-noise ratio. This paper presents suitable material for nanoantenna design and the advancement in their performance for THz communications. Copper, Graphene, and carbon nanotube materials are used as promising candidates for nanoantenna design. The performance of nanoantennas is carried out by analyzing the properties and behavior of the material at THz. Results show that the Graphene nanoantenna provides better performance in terms of miniaturization, directivity, and radiation efficiency. Further, the performance enhancement of the nanoantenna at THz is studied by dynamically adjusting the surface conductivity via the chemical potential of Graphene using the electric field effect. The performance of the nanoantenna is enhanced in terms of high miniaturization, high directivity, low reflection, frequency reconfiguration, and stable impedance. The THz nanoantennas using Graphene have the potential to be used for THz communication systems. In view of the smart THz wireless environment; this paper finally presents a THz Hypersurface using Graphene meta-atoms. The user-side Graphene nanoantennas and environment-side Graphene Hypersurface can build a promising smart THz wireless environment.

Terahertz (THz) communication is one of the remarkable topics in the field of communication. Terahertz communication, which is one of the promising topics in meeting the rapidly increasing number of devices and the need for data speed and channel capacity, aims to increase the wireless communication frequency band up to terahertz level. When the terahertz frequency is used the wavelength decreases significantly, which causes electromagnetic waves to be more affected by the channel effects. There must be a clear line of sight (LOS) between the transmitter and the receiver in THz communication systems and the electromagnetic wave sent must be highly directive. The use of intelligent reflective surfaces in the terahertz band can provide advantages in the reflected wave being more directive. In this study, different Intelligent Reflective Surface designs in the literature are implemented and a performance comparison is presented in terms of beam characteristics.

The hybrid beamforming structure is widely used in terahertz (THz) communications due to the low hardware complexity. However, its performance is severely degraded by beam squint effects in wideband THz communications resulting from the non-frequency-specific analog beamforming. To overcome this issue, in this paper, we investigate THz multiuser communications and propose a joint subcarrier allocation and hybrid beamforming (JSH) algorithm to compensate for the beam squint effects and maximize the sum-rate of users. The JSH algorithm alternates between subcarrier allocation and hybrid beamforming. Given the hybrid beamforming, the subcarrier allocation is formulated as an assignment problem and solved using the classic Hungarian algorithm. Given the subcarrier allocation, the hybrid beamforming is solved by developing a penalty-based two-loop hybrid beamforming algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed JSH algorithm can effectively compensate for the beam squint effects and outperforms the existing ones in terms of the multiuser sum-rate.

High modulation depth fiber-based modulators working at terahertz (THz) wavelength are of paramount importance for the application of THz communication technology by taking advantages of the low loss, high interference resistance and strong adaptability THz fiber network. Here, we demonstrate a THz modulator based on side-polished THz fiber combined with GaAs film/Au-nanoparticles (Au-Nps). The Au-Nps and the remaining thickness of the side-polishing are careful designed to achieve target resonance wavelengths. The side-polishing region of fiber provides a flat platform for integrating nanostructures to enhanced light-matter interactions which greatly enhances the modulation performance. The experimental results show that this new fiber modulator can achieve the THz wave amplitude modulation under a relatively low irradiation of an external 808 nm laser, with a tunable frequency range of 0.366-1.093 THz and a maximum modulation depth of 99.24%. Besides, resonance frequency can be adjusted by changing the remaining thickness of the device. Moreover, the area of this modulator is only 9 mm<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> which can be easily integrated into THz systems. Therefore, we believe our work will contribute to the developments of high-performance fiber-based THz modulator for applications in THz communication system.

The paper presents the prototyping of a high-order modulation (64-QAM) terahertz (THz) communication system over 100 Gbps. To begin with, the channel capacity and spectrum efficiency of a THz link are analyzed based on Shannon’s theorem and the state of the art technology. Then, a Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) frequency multiplier and a secondary harmonics mixer are designed and manufactured. Finally, we prototype the THz communication system and realize the transmission data rate over 100 Gbps with 64-QAM in lab. The test results in our study paves the way towards the fulfillment of the broadband and large capacity required by future sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication systems.

For millimeter wave (mmWave) or Terahertz (THz) communications, by leveraging the high spatial resolution offered by large antenna arrays and the multi-path sparsity of mmWave/THz channels, a novel inter-symbol interference (ISI) mitigation technique called delay alignment modulation (DAM) has been recently proposed. The key ideas of DAM are <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">delay pre-compensation</i> and <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">path-based beamforming</i>. However, existing research on DAM is mainly based on fully digital beamforming, which requires the number of radio frequency (RF) chains to be equal to the number of antennas. This paper proposes the hybrid analog/digital beamforming based DAM, including both fully and partially connected structures. The analog and digital beamforming matrices are designed to achieve performance close to DAM based on fully digital beamforming. While DAM was considered for the path-based channel model with integer delays in the previous work, this paper extends DAM to a more general tap-based model that accounts for fractional path delays. To further reduce the cost of channel estimation and improve the performance for wireless channels with fractional delays, DAM with codebook-based beam alignment and DAM-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DAM-OFDM) with hybrid beamforming are proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed techniques is verified by extensive simulation results.

Considering that the metastructures (MSs) previously proposed usually perform in a single state, herein, a multifunctional and tunable ultra-broadband linear to circle (LTC) polarization converter based on phase transition material vanadium dioxide ( V O 2 ) is proposed in the terahertz (THz) region. By manipulating the temperature, the function of the LTC polarization conversion (PC) can be conveniently switched between transmission and reflection states. When the environment temperature is low, V O 2 presents the insulating state, and the MS can achieve ultra-wideband LTC PC from 0.57–0.83 THz with a relative bandwidth (RB) of 37.3%. When the temperature exceeds 68°C, LTC PC with the frequency bandwidth of 0.83–1.20 THz and 0.83–1.17 THz can be obtained in a reflection state when electromagnetic waves propagate forward and backward, whose RBs are 36.4% and 34.0%, respectively. Meanwhile, a broadband linear to linear (LTL) PC can also be realized in the range of 1.19–1.41 THz for the forward incident wave and 1.16–1.37 THz for the backward incident wave. The designed MS offers an effective method to realize four different functions and has tremendous potential value in realizing THz modulation devices, electromagnetic cloaking, and communication systems.

A well-known empirical rule for the demand of wireless communication systems is that of Edholm's law of bandwidth. It states that the demand for bandwidth in wireless short-range communications doubles every 18 months. With the growing demand for bandwidth and the decreasing cell size of wireless systems, terahertz (THz) communication systems are expected to become increasingly important in modern day applications. With this expectation comes the need for protecting users' privacy and security in the best way possible. With that in mind, we show that quantum key distribution can operate in the THz regime and we derive the relevant secret key rates against realistic collective attacks. In the extended THz range (from 0.1 to 50 THz), we find that below 1 THz, the main detrimental factor is thermal noise, while at higher frequencies it is atmospheric absorption. Our results show that high-rate THz quantum cryptography is possible over distances varying from a few meters using direct reconciliation, to about 220m via reverse reconciliation. We also give a specific example of the physical hardware and architecture that could be used to realize our THz quantum key distribution scheme.

With multi-GHz bandwidth, Terahertz (THz) communication has drawn increasing attention in the sixth generation (6G) and beyond communication systems. Although different hybrid beamforming algorithms have been developed to improve array gain and spectral efficiency in both single-user and multiuser systems, they rely on the compact array architecture and far-field approximation of propagation. In the THz band, due to the limited number of multipath and shortage of spatial degree freedom of the channel, the spatial mulitplexing gain is constrained. In this paper, a widely-spaced multi-subarray (WSMS) hybrid beamforming architecture is proposed in a multi-user network, to harness both the inter and intra-multiplexing gains in the enlarged near-field propagation region. Specifically, the novel structure of the hybrid beamforming matrices is analyzed, and an alternating optimization algorithm to maximize the sum rate is designed. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm under the WSMS architecture outperforms the existing beamforming schemes in the traditional architectures.

This paper presents a comprehensive review of integrated terahertz (THz) and free-space optical (FSO) communication systems, focusing on their potential to address the escalating demands for high-capacity, long-distance, and ultra-reliable transmission in future six-generation (6G) and space–air–ground integrated networks (SAGIN). The study systematically examines recent advancements in three critical areas: channel modeling, transmission performance, and integrated system architectures. Specifically, it analyzes THz and FSO channel characteristics, including attenuation mechanisms, turbulence effects, pointing errors, and noise sources, and compares their complementary strengths under diverse atmospheric conditions. Key findings reveal that THz communication achieves transmission rates up to several Tbps over distances of several kilometers but is constrained by molecular absorption and weather-induced attenuation, while FSO offers superior bandwidth-distance products yet suffers from turbulence-induced fading, posing significant reliability challenges. The integration of THz and FSO through adaptive switching strategies (e.g., hard and soft switching) demonstrates enhanced reliability and spectral efficiency, with experimental results showing seamless data rates exceeding Tbps in hybrid systems. However, challenges persist in transceiver hardware integration, algorithmic optimization, and dynamic resource allocation. The review concludes by identifying future research directions, including the development of unified channel models, shared architectures, and intelligent switching algorithms to achieve robust integrated communication infrastructures.

Terahertz (THz) communication is widely regarded as a key component of the future 6G mobile communication system. This paper proposes a novel ultra-wideband fiber-THz-fiber seamless converged real-time architecture that fully exploits the commercially mature digital coherent optical module (DCO) to realize ultra-high capacity THz real-time wireless communication by conducting a comparative analysis for some of the main existing technical routes of THz up- and down-conversion in THz wireless communication systems. (1) The proposed architecture employs the techniques of dual-polarization photonic up-conversion for THz generation and hybrid optoelectronic down-conversion for THz reception, respectively, to enable seamless integration of optical fiber and THz communications. (2) Due to the limited bandwidth of the optoelectronic devices, multi-dimensional modulation techniques are adopted for ultra-wideband terahertz signals to improve the spectral efficiency and transmission capacity. (3) An intelligent nonlinear joint compensation technique based on deep neural network (DNN) is proposed, which can effectively improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the time-varying hybrid fiber-THz-fiber channel. Based on the above-mentioned investigations, we for the first time realize the photonics-aided record-high 100/200 GbE real-time THz wireless transmission at 360 (∼) 430 GHz band, with a capacity of 10 to 20 times that of 5G. The proposed fiber-THz-fiber architecture can realize the smooth conversion between high-speed THz signal and lightwave signal. Furthermore, the architecture can significantly reduce research complexity and development costs and thus greatly accelerate the commercialization of 6G THz technology by highly reusing commercial DCO modules, which is compatible with the physical layer transmission protocols such as IEEE 802.3 and ITU-T G.798. Finally, this paper discusses some potential research and development directions for higher-capacity, longer-distance, and more-integrated fiber-THz-fiber seamless communication.

The ever-growing number of interconnected devices and the emergence of high-bandwidth technologies such as holographic communications in mixed reality are driving an exponential growth in the demand for terabits-per-second (Tbps) data rates with sub-milliseconds latency. For this reason, the sixth-generation (6G) wireless communications are moving towards the terahertz (THz) frequency band because of its wider spectral bandwidth availability to enable higher channel capacity and data rates according to the Shannon-Hartley theorem. However, the efficiency of wireless THz signal transmission is reduced by the increased path loss and atmospheric attenuation due to water vapor absorption at THz frequencies, which significantly decreases the signal-to-noise ratio and the spectral efficiency of THz wireless communications. The realization of THz band communications is further impeded by the limited power output of existing compact THz sources due to the extremely low conversion efficiencies. Therefore, it is crucial to develop broadband THz integrated circuits with waveguiding and beamforming functionalities for supporting high data-rate on-chip communications and to provide sufficient gains to counteract the path loss and limited power of THz wireless transmissions. This thesis aims to improve the spectral efficiency of 6G wireless communications via the spatiotemporal shaping of THz waves using silicon photonics. Spatiotemporal light shaping is the basis of nearly all THz photonic devices, ranging from THz wavefront manipulation using metasurfaces to THz planar waveguiding using photonic crystal waveguides. Silicon photonics is a promising material platform for THz wave shaping due to the low-loss propagation of THz waves in high-resistivity silicon and the prospect of a monolithic integrated circuit due to the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication process compatibility. Silicon metasurfaces allow the wavefront modulation of incident THz radiation by exploiting the generalized Snell’s law of refraction and reflection to beamform highly directional THz waves in a dynamic multi-user communication environment for enhancing the spectral efficiency. Likewise, broadband silicon photonic crystal waveguides allow the in-plane and lossless transport of THz waves to support on-chip high data-rate THz communications that can also seamlessly integrate multiple THz photonic devices in a THz integrated circuit. In addition, silicon electron emitters and silicon gratings potentially allow the on-chip generation of highly intense and broadband THz radiation to counteract the significant THz attenuation. In this thesis, spatiotemporal wave shaping techniques using silicon photonics for enhancing the spectral efficiency of THz band communications is presented. First, a self-adaptive and deep reinforcement learning model for THz beamforming is proposed, which can beamform multiple highly directional THz radiation beam in real-time to serve a dynamically changing multi-user communication environment and improve the signal-to-noise ratio of THz wireless transmission while potentially reducing the communication latency. Second, a broadband THz topological silicon waveguide designed based on valley photonic crystals is proposed for the robust and lossless transport of broadband THz waves for the construction of THz integrated circuits with broadband channel capacity for enabling higher data-rate on-chip communication. Last, the versatility of free-electron radiation from silicon gratings is investigated for the generation of highly intense spatiotemporal wave packets with user-designed group velocities and tunable intensity profile, with the potential to realize integrated high-power THz sources. The deep learning beamforming model, the broadband topological waveguide designs, and the free-electron radiation intensity shaping techniques presented in this thesis extends beyond the THz regime and are scalable across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The CMOS process compatibility of silicon metasurfaces, silicon planar waveguides, along with silicon electron emitters and silicon gratings offers the opportunity to realize a broadband THz photonic integrated circuit with waveguiding, wave generation and beamforming functionalities for enhancing the spectral efficiency of THz communications in 6G wireless networks.

Terahertz (THz) communications are celebrated as key enablers for converged localization and sensing in future sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication systems and beyond. Instead of being a byproduct of the communication system, localization in 6G is indispensable for location-aware communications. Towards this end, we aim to identify the prospects, challenges, and requirements of THz localization techniques. We first review the history and trends of localization methods and discuss their objectives, constraints, and applications in contemporary communication systems. We then detail the latest advances in THz communications and introduce THz-specific channel and system models. Afterward, we formulate THz-band localization as a 3D position/orientation estimation problem, detailing geometry-based localization techniques and describing potential THz localization and sensing extensions. We further formulate the offline design and online optimization of THz localization systems, provide numerical simulation results, and conclude by providing lessons learned and future research directions. Preliminary results illustrate that under the same transmission power and array footprint, THz-based localization outperforms millimeter wave-based localization. In other words, the same level of localization performance can be achieved at THz-band with less transmission power or a smaller footprint.

The importance of terahertz (THz) detection lies in its ability to provide detailed information in a non-destructive manner, making it a valuable tool across various domains including spectroscopy, communication, and security. The ongoing development of THz detectors aims to enhance their sensitivity, resolution and integration into compact and portable devices such as handheld scanners or integrated communication chips. Generally, two-dimensional (2D) materials are considered potential candidates for device miniaturization but detecting THz radiation using 2D semiconductors is generally difficult due to the ultra-small photon energy. However, this challenge is being addressed by the advent of topological semimetals (TSM) with zero-bandgap characteristics. These semimetals offer low-energy excitations in proximity to the Dirac point, which is particularly important for applications requiring a broad detection range. Their distinctive band structures with linear energy-momentum dispersion near the Fermi level also lead to high electron mobility and low effective mass. The presence of topologically protected dissipationless conducting channels and self-powered response provides a basis for low-energy integration. In order to establish paradigms for semimetal-based THz detectors, this review initially offers an analytical summary of THz detection principles. Then, the review demonstrates the distinct design of devices, the excellent performance derived from the topological surface state and unique band structures in TSM. Finally, we outline the prospective avenues for on-chip integration of TSM-based THz detectors. We believe this review can promote further research on the new generation of THz detectors and facilitate advancements in THz imaging, spectroscopy, and communication systems.

We propose a cluster-based multi-carrier beam division multiple access (MC-BDMA) scheme to enable massive device terahertz (THz) communications with the dynamic-subarray hybrid beamforming (HBF) architecture. This scheme is motivated by a limitation of conventional HBF architectures, i.e., the number of users cannot exceed the number of radio frequency (RF) chains. By exploiting the unique properties of THz channels, such as high distance-and-frequency dependence, high sparsity, and small angular spread, we propose multiple users in the same cluster to be supported by a single RF chain with distance-aware multi-carrier modulation. Moreover, we propose different clusters to be divided by BDMA that is accomplished through HBF design. In our proposed scheme, we first design a novel antenna selection and subarray partition algorithm for the dynamic-subarray HBF architecture to compensate for performance loss caused by diverse channels among users. We then design an algorithm for multi-carrier HBF which maximizes the achievable throughput and eliminates the inter-beam interference. Numerical results show that our proposed cluster-based MC-BDMA scheme with the dynamic-subarray HBF architecture provides an almost 100% spectral efficiency gain and a 60% energy efficiency gain over the conventional non-cluster HBF scheme in massive device communications.