Development of Wireless Communication Systems in the Subterahertz Frequency Range

• Published in: Radiophysics and quantum electronics 2019-03, Vol.61 (10), p.763-772
• Main Authors: Biryukov, V. V., Vaks, V. L., Kisilenko, K. I., Panin, A. N., Pripolzin, S. I., Raevsky, A. S., Shcherbakov, V.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Antenna gain; Antennas; Antennas (Electronics); Astronomy; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Atmospheric attenuation; Bandwidths; Broadband; Channel capacity; Communications systems; Data transmission; Frequency ranges; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Lasers; Mathematical and Computational Physics; Multiplication; Nuclear Physics; Observations and Techniques; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Power gain; Quantum Optics; Semiconductor devices; Signal distortion; Signal transmission; Terahertz frequencies; Theoretical; Wireless communication systems; Wireless communications
• ISSN: 0033-8443; 1573-9120
• DOI: 10.1007/s11141-019-09934-5

The subterahertz and terahertz frequency ranges are promising for the creation of high-speed wireless communication systems because of the possibility to achieve a bandwidth of about several dozen gigahertz, which ensures a high channel capacity. However, rapid attenuation of a signal during its propagation in the atmosphere complicates the operation of communication systems in these ranges. The use of fixed narrow-beam antennas with a high power gain provides a direct surface communication distance of up to a few kilometers. The communication distance limitation can be partially removed by decreasing the frequency down to 200 GHz and narrowing the channel bandwidth down to a few gigahertz. In this paper, we present a radically new approach that was developed to create a wideband (up to one gigahertz) communication channel based on rapid modulation of a centimeter wavelength signal followed by the carrier-frequency multiplication up to 230 GHz without the modulating-signal distortion. This approach was not used in the previous communication systems. The model of a transmit–receive system (200–220 GHz) based on modern semiconductor devices is described in detail. The possibility of digital signal transmission at a speed of up to 1 Gbit/s is experimentally shown. According to calculations, an output power of the transmitter about several hundreds of microwatt is enough for data transmission to a distance of up to 1.5 km with an antenna gain of no less than 50 dB.