Does it have Wi-Fi included? Terahertz waves offer unrivaled capacity – SMARTmania.cz

• The capacity of mobile networks and Wi-Fi is reaching its limits
• A promising option are terahertz waves, which could also be used in 6G and 7G technologies
• But the big problem with terahertz waves is that they can’t pass through obstacles

The rapid rise of the digital era and increasing dependence on data brings a constant increase in demand for efficient information transfer. Mobile networks and Wi-Fi, although constantly evolving, are experiencing capacity constraints, leading to the search for new technologies with greater throughput. Scientists are thus turning to terahertz (Thz) waves, which offer tremendous potential for data transmission compared to microwaves, which are currently in common use. This technology promises to revolutionize short-range wireless communication, which could find wide application in areas such as 5G, 6G.

Thz waves are located on the border between infrared radiation and microwave radiation with a wavelength ranging from 0.03 to 3 mm.

Unfortunately, terahertz waves have one major limitation. They are easily blocked by solid objects. This means that any obstacle can disrupt the connection. These waves can be blocked by virtually anything, from walls, furniture, to people… This requires direct line of sight between the transmitter and receiver. This fact significantly complicates their use in common wireless systems. In this regard, a recent discovery by scientists who presented in the journal Communications Engineering a new method for manipulating terahertz signals that could overcome these pitfalls comes into play.

Terahertz waves as the future of wireless data transmission?

“We want more data per second,” explains Professor Daniel Mittleman, lead author of the study, emphasizing the need for more bandwidth for efficient data transfer. “Conventional frequency bands simply don’t offer enough capacity that we need.” Terahertz waves appear to be a promising solution due to their exceptional bandwidth. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have designed and demonstrated an innovative concept of “self-accelerating beams” for terahertz (THz) communications. Self-accelerating beams are an innovative form of electromagnetic waves that have the ability to naturally curve as they propagate. This unique feature allows the beams to bypass obstacles and maintain a strong signal even in challenging environments.

A Berkeley research team has constructed THz (terahertz) transmitters that use specific structures. Structures manipulate the properties of waves, such as their phase, intensity, and amplitude. These structures are made of different materials and have different geometric shapes. Their goal is to modify wave propagation to bend and overcome obstacles, eliminating the line-of-sight limitations typical of terahertz waves. In this way, it is possible to manipulate the waves so that they “learn” to work together and maintain a strong signal even when partially blocked.

Self-accelerating beams also offer increased network capacity due to their ability to carry more data over shorter distances. This factor is especially useful in densely populated urban areas or places with high data traffic where high network throughput is needed for efficient data transfer. Finally, we must also mention the resistance of self-accelerating beams to interference. Due to their flexibility and adaptability, these beams are less susceptible to interference than traditional wireless technologies.