Design and Validation of a Metallic Reflectarray for Communications at True Terahertz Frequencies

TL;DR

This paper presents a metallic reflectarray designed for true terahertz frequencies, enabling controlled reflection to improve communication reliability in high-frequency wireless systems.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel metallic reflectarray for 1-1.05 THz, validated through experiments, to enhance terahertz communication by enabling non-specular reflections.

Findings

Effective control of non-specular reflection at terahertz frequencies

Improved communication robustness using the reflectarray

Validation with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and testbed

Abstract

Wireless communications in the terahertz band (0.1-10 THz) is a promising and key wireless technology enabling ultra-high data rate communication over multi-gigahertz-wide bandwidths, thus fulfilling the demand for denser networks. The complex propagation environment at such high frequencies introduces several challenges, such as high spreading and molecular absorption losses. As such, intelligent reflecting surfaces have been proposed as a promising solution to enable communication in the presence of blockage or to aid a resource-limited quasi-omnidirectional transmitter direct its radiated power. In this paper, we present a metallic reflectarray design achieving controlled non-specular reflection at true terahertz frequencies (i.e., 1-1.05 THz). We conduct extensive experiments to further characterize and validate its working principle using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and demonstrate its effectiveness with information-carrying signals using a continuous-wave terahertz testbed. Our results show that the reflectarray can help facilitate robust communication links over non-specular paths and improve the reliability of terahertz communications, thereby unleashing the true potential of the terahertz band.