Speeding down the information superhighway

With the potential to deliver data at unprecedented speeds, 6G wireless communication holds the key to a fully connected world. However, its application is limited by its reliance on terahertz waves, which are prone to scattering and signal loss.

Devices called beamformers focus terahertz waves in desired directions and improve the signal-to-noise ratio of transmitted signals. Researchers led by Prof Ranjan Singh of NTU’s School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences have developed a beamformer that could advance 6G communication and beyond.

The novel beamformer can transmit terahertz signals over long distances (300 mm) and in multiple directions simultaneously. The chip is the first device capable of transmitting information at 40 gigabits per second in eight directions at once, enabling real-time high-definition television streaming in four directions.

The chip comprises a lattice of rhombus unit cells, each formed by two equilateral triangular air holes. Wireless signals entering the chip travel along the edges of these air holes, where they are shielded from scattering.

By enabling high-performance wireless communication, this device will open doors to new innovations, the researchers say.

Read more about the innovation in “On-chip topological beamformer for multi-link terahertz 6G to XG wireless” in Nature (2024), DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07759-5.