Distributed wavefront shaping in radiative near-field sub-terahertz wireless networks

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics
• Wireless Communication
• Optics

Background:

• The radiative near-field regime is crucial for sub-Terahertz (sub-THz) wireless networks, offering focused and self-healing beams.
• Existing methods to extend the near-field regime, like larger transmit arrays, face practical limitations in size, cost, and fabrication.
• The favorable near-field properties are currently limited to a narrow range within the Fresnel regime.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel method for extending the effective near-field regime in sub-THz wireless communication.
• To demonstrate distributed near-field beam shaping using multiple coordinated transmitting apertures.
• To overcome the range limitations of near-field beam properties without impractical large-form-factor arrays.

Main Methods:

• Mathematical modeling based on near-field electromagnetics, Fourier optics, and wave optics.
• Experimental demonstration of distributed near-field beam shaping.
• Utilizing multiple coordinated transmitting apertures to manipulate the electromagnetic field.

Main Results:

• Successfully extended the functional range of advantageous near-field beam properties.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of distributed beam shaping for increasing the effective near-field regime.
• Validated the mathematical models through experimental results.

Conclusions:

• Distributed near-field beam shaping offers a practical solution to extend the utility of near-field properties in sub-THz wireless systems.
• This approach enhances beam focusing and resilience against blockages over a larger operational range.
• Coordinated multiple apertures provide an alternative to large, complex transmit arrays for near-field applications.