Live Streaming of Uncompressed HD and 4K Videos Using Terahertz Wireless Links

Abstract

Taming the Terahertz waves (100 GHz-10 THz) is considered the next frontier in wireless communications. While components for the ultra-high bandwidth Terahertz wireless communications were in rapid development over the past several years, however, their commercial availability is still lacking. Nevertheless, as we demonstrate in this paper, due to recent advances in the microwave and infrared photonics hardware, it is now possible to assemble high performance hybrid THz communication systems for real-life applications. As an example, in this work, we present design and performance evaluation of the photonics-based Terahertz wireless communication system for the transmission of uncompressed 4K video feed that is built using all commercially available system components. In particular, two independent tunable lasers operating in the infrared C-band are used as a source for generating the Terahertz carrier wave using frequency difference generation in a photomixer. One of the IR laser beams carries the data which is intensity modulated using the LiNbO3 electro-optic modulator. A zero bias Schottky detector is used as the detector and demodulator of the data stream followed by the high-gain and low-noise pre-amplifier. The Terahertz carrier frequency is fixed at 138 GHz and the system is characterized by measuring the bit error rate for the pseudo random bit sequences at 5.5 Gbps. By optimizing the link geometry and decision parameters, an errorfree (BER<10 -10 ) transmission at a link distance of 1m is achieved. Finally, we detail integration of a professional 4K camera into the THz communication link, and demonstrate live streaming of the uncompressed HD and 4K video followed by analysis of the link quality.

Tunable compression of THz chirped pulses using a helical graphene ribbon-loaded hollow-core waveguide

“…In order to investigate the pulse compression performance of the component, it is assumed that the input pulse is a y-polarized chirped sine function, as stated in Eqn. (3), where f Hi is the upper-band frequency of the negative dispersion region, T 0 is the input pulse width, E 0 is the electric field amplitude and µ is the chirp factor. The chirp factor for a uniform input pulse spectrum in the positive GVD region from f Lo to f Hi , respectively here from 2.15 THz to 2.28 THz, can be calculated using Eqn.…”

“…THz technology is of particular interest as the next frontier for the future short-range high-speed wireless link [1] and the upcoming mobile networks beyond 5G [2], as more bandwidth-hungry applications are waiting for a feasible protocol solution [3]. By moving system carrier frequencies beyond 0.1 THz, such ultra-high bandwidths can be provided.…”

An Overview of Signal Processing Techniques for Terahertz Communications

“…Furthermore, opensource large-scale distributed testbeds are being developed to facilitate experimental research in the mmWave and THz bands, such as MillimeTera [161]. In [162], a live streaming demonstration of an uncompressed 4K video using a photonics-based THz communication system (below 200 GHz) is reported, where error-free transmission is achieved at a distance of 1 m. Similarly, THz signals propagating through practical outdoor weather conditions and subject to indoor surface reflections are studied in [163]. In [164], it is also argued that with proper planning, THz communications can support outdoor communications.…”

Continuous Fabrication of Microstructured Fibers for THz Communications Using Infinite 3D Printing

“…The 3D printed suspended core MSF is further characterized using an in-house THz communication system detailed in [2]. The fiber transmission loss is measured using a standard cutback method.…”