CAREER: Realizing Ultra-Broadband Terahertz Communication Networks

在过去的几年里，无线连接的移动设备的数量以及它们通信的数据速率都有了巨大的增长。在这种背景下，太赫兹(THz)频段(0.1-10 THz)通信被设想为下一个十年的关键无线技术。几十年来，由于缺乏能够在室温下工作的紧凑和高效的太赫兹收发机，阻碍了太赫兹频段的实际应用。然而，许多最近的设备技术进步终于缩小了所谓的太赫兹差距。从通信的角度来看，主要有两组挑战需要克服：(I)由于载波频率更高(至少数百GHz)，THz信号在现实场景中的传播极具挑战性；(Ii)由于带宽更大(至少数十GHz)，在存在相位噪声和其他硬件限制的情况下，与超宽带信号的同步和通信是尚未解决的问题。总而言之，这些都给协议栈带来了更多的挑战，为了实现未来的网络，需要克服这些挑战。该项目的目标是证明关于太赫兹通信网络的真相并揭穿神话。目标突破是采用自下而上的方法，通过数学建模、数值模拟和实验评估的闭环相结合的方法，证明在太赫兹频率下建立超宽带通信网络的可行性。对于后者，该项目将利用超宽带网络系统试验台，这是布法罗大学(UB)新建立的首个此类通信和网络试验台，能够支持60 GHz、240 GHz和1 THz的超宽带链路(高达32 GHz带宽)。建议的工作被分成四个相互交织的主题：(I)为室内和室外场景中的定向THz通信开发随机多径信道模型；(Ii)设计、实现和测试能够最大限度地利用THz频率上的可用带宽的物理层技术，包括相位噪声估计和同步算法、超宽带调制和超大规模MIMO通信方案；(Iii)开发用于超宽带网络的链路层解决方案，包括快速邻居发现算法和多跳中继策略；以及(Iv)旨在为太赫兹通信的发展创造一个令人兴奋的环境的综合研究和教育计划。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Over the last few years, there has been a tremendous growth in the number of wirelessly connected mobile devices as well as in the data rate at which they communicate. In this context, Terahertz (THz) band (0.1 - 10 THz) communication is envisioned as a key wireless technology for the next decade. For many decades, the lack of compact and efficient THz transceivers able to work at room temperature has hampered the use of the THz band for practical applications. However, many recent device technology advancements are finally closing the so-called THz gap. From the communication perspective, there are mainly two sets of challenges to overcome: (i) due to the higher carrier frequency (at least hundreds of GHz), the propagation of THz signals in realistic scenarios is extremely challenging and (ii) due to the much larger bandwidth (at least tens of GHz), synchronization and communication with ultra-broadband signals in the presence of phase noise and other hardware limitations, are unsolved problems. Together, these introduce further challenges across the protocol stack, which need to be overcome in order to enable the networks of tomorrow.The objective of the project is to demonstrate the truths and debunk the myths about THz communication networks. The targeted breakthrough is to prove the feasibility of ultra-broadband communication networks at THz frequencies, by following a bottom-up approach and through a closed-loop combination of mathematical modeling, numerical simulation and experimental evaluation. For the latter, the project will leverage the Ultra-Broadband Networking Systems Test-bed, a newly established first-of-its-kind communication and networking test-bed at the University at Buffalo (UB), able to support ultra-broadband links (up to 32 GHz bandwidth) at 60 GHz, 240 GHz and 1 THz. The proposed work has been divided into four intertwined thrusts: (i) development of stochastic multi-path channel models for directional THz communications in indoor and outdoor scenarios; (ii) design, implementation and testing of physical layer techniques able to maximally utilize the available bandwidth at THz frequencies, including phase noise estimation and synchronization algorithms, ultra-broadband modulations and ultra-massive MIMO communication schemes; (iii) development of link layer solutions for ultra-broadband networks, including expedited neighbor discovery algorithms and multi-hop relaying strategies; and (iv) an integrated research and education plan aimed at creating an exciting environment at UB for the development of THz communications.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.