Metasurface-Based Filters for High Data Rate THz Wireless Communication: Experimental Validation of a 14 Gbps OOK and 104 Gbps QAM-16 Wireless Link in the 300 GHz Band

Abstract

We demonstrate the effectiveness of frequency selective surface filters in wireless communications at low terahertz (THz) frequencies. Full-wave simulations of pass-band filters designed at 270 GHz and 330 GHz are compared with measurements over 220–360 GHz, showing remarkable agreement. The filter spectral response is used to analytically model a THz filter-based wireless channel for modulated signals. In particular, numerical results and measurements for an OOK modulated signal are in good agreement for both free-space and filtered transmission at 14 Gb/s. In both cases, bit error rates (BER) as low as 10-10 are measured. This result demonstrates that the filters marginally affect the BER with respect to free-space, interference-free transmission, whereas interfering signals are strongly rejected. This result is demonstrated through a systematic evaluation of the BER in presence of an interfering signal with different carriers and amplitudes. Results confirm a strong filter rejection to interference carriers close to the filter central frequency. Conversely, without the filters the BER performance is fully compromised. Finally, we demonstrate numerically and experimentally that the constellation diagram for 104 Gb/s QAM-16 communication is not significantly affected by the filter. The investigated filters may provide a robust approach towards efficient spectrum management for future 6G wireless applications.