Towards 6G: The Role of Photonics in THz Communications

The prospect of offering large contiguous frequency bands to meet the demand for previously impossible data transfer rates up to the terabit/sec range make sub-terahertz and terahertz (THz) waves a key research area of 6G mobile communication.

Besides using electronic MMICs, alternative methods for generating THz radiation based on ultra-stable photonic sources can play a key role in the future. In this webinar we highlight why photonics can play a vital role in 6G illustrated by several application examples. Photonic technologies can provide a way to transfer the extraordinary phase noise stability and tunability of optical oscillators into the microwave and THz region for communication and instrumentation. Further examples include using structured photons for communication, and applying optical frequency comb technology for metrology and calibration. The webinar also discusses propagation characteristics, which are essential to fully exploit the potential of the sub-THz frequency ranges.