Channel Sounding and Ray Tracing for Train-to-Train Communications at the THz Band

In order to increase railway capacity for passengers and freight, it is necessary to realize virtual coupling technology through train-to-train (T2T) communications. This T2T link requires large bandwidth for high-data rate and low latency, forming a strong motivation to explore terahertz (THz) band. In this paper, the T2T channel is characterized through ultra-wideband (UWB) channel sounding and ray tracing at THz band for the first time. To begin with, a series of T2T channel sounding measurements are performed in a train test center at 300 GHz with 8 GHz bandwidth. Correspondingly, Rician K-factor and root-mean-square (RMS) delay spread are extracted from the measured power-delay profile (PDP). After validated by the measurements, a self-developed ray-tracing (RT) simulator is used to physically interpret the propagation mechanism constitution and significant objects in the target scenario. This provides the first hand information of how the communicating trains themselves influence the T2T channel, and therefore, lays the foundation for channel modeling through extended RT simulations in the future.