Photonics-Aided Terahertz-Wave Wireless Communication

To meet the upcoming 6G communications challenges, terahertz-wave (THz-wave) wireless data transmission over 100 Gb/s is urgently needed in the short term. However, advanced digital signal processing (DSP) technologies suitable for millimeter-wave (mm-wave) bands cannot satisfy the requirements; increasing the carrier frequencies for more spectra is essential. Photonics-aided THz-wave generation (PTG) technology has become a valid way to solve the bandwidth bottleneck. New progress has been made in PTG by using optical frequency combs and optical modulators. The application of DSP technology for heterodyne detection can not only overcome the nonlinear effect in photoelectric devices but also enhance the receiver sensitivity and spectral efficiency. Multidimensional multiplexing technology can reduce the baud rate of each subchannel to realize the long-distance transmission of THz-wave signals. In this tutorial, we introduce the key technologies and principles of ultrahigh speed and large capacity THz-wave signal transmission. These technologies can effectively improve the transmission capacity and distance and reduce the bandwidth required by optical and electronic equipment.