Modeling and performance analysis of a reconfigurable plasmonic nano-antenna array architecture for terahertz communications

Abstract

Terahertz-band (0.1 to 10 THz) communication is envisioned as a key wireless technology to satisfy the need for much higher wireless data rates. Recently, the use of nanomaterials such as graphene is enabling the development of novel plasmonic devices, which intrinsically operate in the THz band. In this paper, a new antenna array architecture that leverages the properties of graphene-based plasmonic devices is proposed. In this array architecture, each element consists of a plasmonic front-end integrated by a THz plasmonic signal source, a THz plasmonic direct signal modulator, and a THz plasmonic nano-antenna. The possibility to directly modulate the signal without using frequency up-converters or sub-harmonic mixers leads to very compact front-ends, which can be much more densely packed than with traditional THz technologies. After presenting the THz plasmonic nano-antenna and THz plasmonic modulator models, the performance of an integrated front-end is numerically investigated. In addition, the beamforming and beamsteering capabilities of a 2x2 array are numerically investigated and discussed.