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Abstract Wireless systems are facing increasing pressure due to the growing demand for data transmission. One potential solution to this problem is to shift communication frequencies toward the terahertz (THz) spectrum. However, this requires the development of new components that can efficiently process signals at these high frequencies and transmit them via highly directional beams. In this study, a novel approach is proposed to achieving efficient THz signal processing by combining two existing technologies: photonic crystals and leaky‐wave antennas. Incorporating a 2D photonic crystal inside a leaky‐wave waveguide allows to manipulate the wave vector of the guided wave in unique ways, which in turn impacts the far‐field radiation pattern emitted through the leaky‐wave aperture. The device fabrication uses 3D printing of alumina and allows for convenient and scalable manufacturing. Through numerical simulations and experiments, free‐space data transmission at rates of few hundred Mbps at a carrier frequency of 101.2 GHz is demonstrated. The findings illustrate the feasibility of photonic crystal‐based leaky‐wave antennas and lay the groundwork for the development of compact and high‐performance components for THz wireless communication systems. 

Abstract A key challenge in millimeter-wave and terahertz wireless networks is blockage of the line-of-sight path between a base station and a user. User and environmental mobility can lead to blockage of highly directional beams by intervening people or objects, yielding link disruptions and poor quality of service. Here, we propose a solution to this problem which leverages the fact that, in such scenarios, users are likely to be located within the electromagnetic near field of the base station, which opens the possibility to engineer wave fronts for link maintenance. We show that curved beams, carrying data at high bit rates, can realize a link by curving around an intervening obstacle. We develop a model to analyze and experimentally evaluate the bandwidth limitations imposed by the use of self accelerating beams. We also demonstrate that such links employ the full aperture of the transmitter, even those portions which have no direct line of sight to the receiver, emphasizing that ray optics fails to capture the behavior of these near-field wave fronts. This approach, which is ideally suited for use at millimeter-wave and terahertz frequencies, opens vast new possibilities for wave front management in directional wireless networks. 

Abstract The field of sub-terahertz wireless communications is advancing rapidly, with major research efforts ramping up around the globe. To address some of the significant hurdles associated with exploiting these high frequencies for broadband and secure networking, systems will require extensive new capabilities for sensing their environment and manipulating their broadcasts. Based on these requirements, a vision for future wireless systems is beginning to emerge. In this Perspective article, we discuss some of the prominent challenges and possible solutions which are at the forefront of current research, and which will contribute to the architecture of wireless platforms beyond 5G. 

We demonstrate a wireless security application to protect the weakest link in phone-to-phone communication, using a terahertz metasurface. To our knowledge, this is the first example of an eavesdropping countermeasure in which the attacker is actively misled.