Very-Large-Scale Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces for Dynamic Control of Terahertz and Millimetre Waves

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel large-scale reconfigurable intelligent surface technology using graphene-based THz modulators and TFTs, enabling real-time control of THz waves for imaging and communication.

Contribution

It introduces a scalable, programmable THz spatial light modulator array with high uniformity, reproducibility, and individual pixel control, advancing THz wave manipulation capabilities.

Findings

Demonstrated electronically programmable THz intensity and phase patterns.

Created a single-pixel mm-wave camera for metallic object imaging.

Achieved high uniformity and reproducibility in large-area THz modulation.

Abstract

Unlocking the potential of terahertz (THz) and millimetre (mm) waves for next generation communications and imaging applications requires reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) with programmable elements that can manipulate the waves in real-time. Realization of this technology has been hindered by the lack of efficient THz electro-optical materials and THz semiconductor platform. Here, by merging graphene-based THz modulators and the thin-film transistor (TFT) technology, we demonstrate mega-scale spatial light modulator arrays with individually addressable subwavelength pixels. We demonstrate electronically programmable patterns of intensity and phase of THz light over a large area with unprecedent levels of uniformity and reproducibility. To highlight the potential of these devices, we demonstrate a single pixel mm-wave camera capable of imaging metallic objects. We anticipate that these results will provide realistic pathways to structure THz waves for applications in non-invasive THz imaging and next generation THz communications.