Title:  THz Device-to-device Communications: Channel Measurements, Modeling, Simulation and Antenna Design

Committee: 

Dr. Zajic, Advisor

Dr. Durgin, Chair

Dr. Peterson

Abstract: The objective of the proposed research is to measure and characterize wireless channel for Terahertz (THz) device-to-device wireless communications, to develop theoretical and simulation models with experimental verification, and to design a planar type antenna that can be used with the THz transceiver system. THz band is one of the least-explored frequency bands for communication with many research challenges. First, the efficiency of classical ultra-broadband antennas when operated at THz band frequencies remains unknown. Second, not only the Line-of-Sight (LoS), but the Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) transmissions of EM waves through different propagation mechanisms, such as reflection, scattering, and diffraction, need to be characterized, modeled, and validated with measurements for different materials at THz band frequencies. Third, a statistical model that efficiently characterizes short-range desktop THz multipath fading channels is required. The first objective of the proposed research is to design, simulate, and fabricate a linearly-tapered slot antenna (LTSA) that operates in the frequency range 280 − 320 GHz, and verify the simulation results with measurements. The second objective of the proposed research is to statistically characterize the 300 GHz channels on a desktop and to devise a new two-dimensional (2-D) geometry-based propagation model for short-range device-to-device sub-THz wireless channels. The third objective is to measure and characterize D-band channels in LoS and NLoS indoor environments. The final objective of the proposed research is to characterize the 300 GHz wireless channels in propagation environments found in computer systems (i.e., computer motherboard) to investigate the feasibility of realizing Chip-to-Chip communication with short-range THz wireless links.