CAREER: Realizing Ultra-Broadband Terahertz Communication Networks

在过去的几年里，无线连接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。在这种情况下，太赫兹（THz）波段（0.1 - 10太赫兹）通信被设想为下一个十年的关键无线技术。几十年来，缺乏能够在室温下工作的紧凑和高效的太赫兹收发器阻碍了太赫兹波段在实际应用中的使用。然而，最近许多设备技术的进步最终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)由于更高的载波频率（至少数百GHz），太赫兹信号在现实场景中的传播极具挑战性；（ii）由于更大的带宽（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。总之，这些在协议栈上带来了进一步的挑战，为了实现未来的网络，需要克服这些挑战。该项目的目的是证明真相并揭穿关于太赫兹通信网络的神话。目标突破是采用自底向上的方法，通过数学建模、数值模拟和实验评估的闭环结合，证明太赫兹频率下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）新建立的首个同类通信和网络试验台，能够支持60 GHz， 240 GHz和1太赫兹的超宽带链路（高达32 GHz带宽）。提出的工作分为四个相互交织的重点：(i)开发室内和室外场景下定向太赫兹通信的随机多径信道模型；（ii）设计、实施和测试能够最大限度地利用太赫兹频率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）为超宽带网络开发链路层解决方案，包括快速邻居发现算法和多跳中继策略；（iv）一项综合研究和教育计划，旨在为太赫兹通信的发展在UB创造一个令人兴奋的环境。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.