Plasmonic modulator enabling kilometer-range high-throughput sub-THz links for radio access networks

Area of Science:

• Telecommunications Engineering
• Optoelectronics
• Wireless Communication

Background:

• Growing mobile data traffic necessitates increased capacity in radio access networks.
• Higher carrier frequencies are required for greater capacity, but reduce signal reach, demanding denser infrastructure.
• Optical fiber offers high throughput but faces deployment challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel all-photonic sub-terahertz (sub-THz) wireless link for high-capacity fronthaul and backhaul.
• To achieve a record net-rate-distance product for wireless data transmission.
• To assess the resilience of sub-THz links to atmospheric turbulence.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an all-photonic wireless link operating at 226 GHz over 1400 m.
• Utilization of broadband photonic and plasmonic components for a flat frequency response.
• Employing a novel dual-sideband receiver to enhance signal-to-noise ratio.

Main Results:

• Achieved a record-high net-rate-distance product of 214.2 Gbit s⁻¹ km.
• Demonstrated link resilience with a scintillation index below 0.019 under strong atmospheric turbulence.
• Confirmed superior turbulence resistance compared to free-space optical links.

Conclusions:

• Sub-terahertz wireless links offer a promising solution for high-capacity, resilient, and cost-effective fronthaul and backhaul.
• The demonstrated technology addresses the limitations of optical fiber deployment.
• The link's robustness against weather and turbulence makes it suitable for future mobile networks.