EECE 5578: Terahertz Communications

EECE 5578: Terahertz Communications

Instructor

Josep Miquel Jornet, Ph.D.
COE Distinguished Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Director, Ultrabroadband Nanonetworking Laboratory
Associate Director, Institute for Intelligent Networked Systems (INSI)
Associate Dean of Research, College of Engineering
Northeastern University

Teaching Assistant

To be announced. Contact information and office hours will be posted on Canvas.

Course Meeting Time and Location

  • Meeting Time: Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:50 to 11:30 AM
  • Location: To be announced

The course will be taught in person, and in-class attendance is expected and will be periodically, randomly checked.

Course Description

This course addresses technical aspects for the conception of the next generation of wireless networks, namely, 6G and beyond, in which the terahertz band (i.e., the frequencies between 100 GHz and 10 THz) plays a critical role. The course provides a comprehensive view of the enabling technologies, challenges, and opportunities for THz communication networks, from innovative device concepts and propagation channel models to ultra-broadband communication and networking protocols. It combines in-class lectures with analytical, numerical and experimental homework assignments leveraging unique state-of-the-art capabilities in the Institute for Intelligent Networked Systems (INSI). The covered topics include terahertz device technologies, terahertz wave propagation and channel modeling, terahertz communications and signal processing, terahertz network architecture and protocol stack, and spectrum policy and standardization.

Course Overview

With 5G networks commercially deployed and the standardization of 6G underway, both academia and industry are exploring the role that the terahertz band (i.e., the frequencies between 100 GHz and 10 THz) will play in 6G and beyond. The very large bandwidth available at THz frequencies (tens to hundreds of consecutive GHz) can alleviate the spectrum scarcity problem while opening the door to Terabit-per-second (Tb/s) wireless links in personal and local area networks, wireless interconnects in data centers, backhaul for urban and rural areas and even space networks. Moreover, the very small size of THz transceivers and antennas (sub-millimetric at THz frequencies) leads to miniature communication devices with applications in wireless networks on chip, wireless nano-bio networks and the Internet of Nano-Things, to name a few. Progress in electronic, photonic, and plasmonic devices over the last decade has narrowed the terahertz technology gap, but several challenges remain, from the limited output power and efficiency of THz sources and the sensitivity of detectors to the design of steerable antenna systems and of signal processing, communication, and networking techniques that make the most of the ultra-broadband THz channel while overcoming the challenging propagation characteristics of THz waves.

The course follows the system from the bottom up, always providing the necessary background knowledge. First, the physics of THz transceivers and antennas is described across the solid-state electronic, vacuum electronic, photonic, and plasmonic technology pathways, and full-wave electromagnetic simulation is used to explore THz antenna structures. Second, THz channel models are developed for indoor, outdoor, intra-body, airborne, and space scenarios, in both the near field and the far field, and experimental datasets collected with the TeraNova testbed, a one-of-a-kind experimental platform developed and hosted at Northeastern University, are used to illustrate the impact of different phenomena on THz waves. Third, communication techniques tailored to the hardware capabilities and the channel peculiarities are presented, from waveforms and coding to ultra-massive MIMO, beamfocusing, and wavefront engineering, and numerical assignments combined with experimental datasets are used to consolidate them. Fourth, the foundations of medium access control, neighbor discovery, relaying, and routing in ultra-broadband THz networks are presented and evaluated through discrete-event network simulation. Finally, the course examines the spectrum regulation, coexistence, standardization, and human exposure considerations that shape the deployment of THz systems.

Students successfully completing the course will be in a privileged position to join leading wireless companies or to continue an in-depth exploration of the topic in their Ph.D. studies.

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

The objective of this course is to provide students with the necessary knowledge, skills and tools to contribute to the development of future wireless networks in the THz band.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Explain how terahertz-band systems differ from microwave, millimeter-wave, and optical wireless systems at the device, channel, and network levels;
  • Compare solid-state electronic, vacuum electronic, photonic, and plasmonic technologies for terahertz transceivers, together with the antenna, array, and metasurface architectures they rely on;
  • Design and simulate directional terahertz antenna systems using full-wave electromagnetic tools;
  • Model terahertz propagation, including spreading loss, molecular absorption, near-field effects, and multipath, and use these models and channel measurements to compute link budgets;
  • Design, implement, and evaluate physical-layer solutions, from waveforms and coding to beamforming and beamfocusing, using numerical tools and experimental datasets;
  • Analyze the challenges that ultra-broadband, highly directional links pose for medium access control, neighbor discovery, relaying, and routing;
  • Explain how spectrum regulation, coexistence with passive services, standardization, and human exposure limits shape the deployment of terahertz systems.

Contents

  1. Module 1: Introduction to the Terahertz Band
    1. Properties of Terahertz Radiation
    2. Applications in Communications and Sensing at the Macro and Nano Scales
  2. Module 2: Terahertz Device Technologies
    1. Technology Pathways to Terahertz Front-ends
      1. Solid-state Electronics
      2. Vacuum Electronics (e.g., Traveling-wave Tubes)
      3. Photonics
      4. Plasmonics
    2. Antenna Systems
      1. Antennas, Antenna Arrays and Reflectarrays
      2. Lenses, Metasurfaces and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces
    3. Ultra-broadband Digital Back-ends
    4. Experimental Testbeds for Terahertz Communications Research
  3. Module 3: Terahertz Wave Propagation and Channel Modeling
    1. Line-of-sight Propagation: Spreading Loss and Molecular Absorption
    2. Near-field and Far-field Propagation
    3. Non-line-of-sight and Multi-path Propagation
    4. Propagation in Extreme Environments
      1. Intra-body Terahertz Propagation
      2. Airborne and Satellite Terahertz Propagation
  4. Module 4: Terahertz Communications and Signal Processing
    1. Waveforms and Modulation under Hardware Constraints
    2. Channel Coding and Error Control
    3. Ultra-massive MIMO and Beam Management
    4. Near-field Communications and Wavefront Engineering
    5. Multi-user Interference
    6. Physical Layer Security
  5. Module 5: Terahertz Network Architecture and Protocol Stack
    1. Medium Access Control
    2. Neighbor Discovery
    3. Relaying
    4. Routing
  6. Module 6: Spectrum Policy and Standardization
    1. Spectrum Regulation above 100 GHz
    2. Coexistence of Passive and Active Services above 100 GHz
    3. Standardization: IEEE 802.15.3d and Beyond
    4. Human Exposure and Safety Limits

Prerequisites (Working Knowledge of)

  • EECE 2530. Fundamentals of Electromagnetics

OR

  • EECE 3400. Introduction to Communication Systems

OR

  • Graduate program admission

Program Applicability

This course is a concentration course in the MSECE Concentration in Communications, Control, and Signal Processing and can count as an elective in the other MSECE concentrations.

It is also an elective in the MS in Wireless and Network Engineering and the MS in Internet of Things.

Organization

  • Homework Assignments:
    • There will be four assignments throughout the semester, consisting of numerical problems that might require using MATLAB, Feko, and ns-3, as well as experimental datasets.
  • Exams:
    • There will be two open-book exams throughout the semester, consisting of conceptual questions
      • Midterm exam: After Module 3 (tentatively Friday, February 26)
      • Final exam: During the final exam period (April 26 to May 2, 2027), on the date and time set by the Registrar

Key Dates

  • Fri, Jan 15: First class meeting
  • Tue, Jan 26: Last day of the add/drop period
  • Fri, Feb 26: Midterm exam (tentative)
  • Mar 8 to 14: Spring break (no class on Tue, Mar 9 or Fri, Mar 12)
  • Fri, Apr 23: Last class meeting
  • Sun, Apr 25: Last day of the withdrawal period
  • Apr 26 to May 2: Final exam period (date and time set by the Registrar)

Homework release and due dates will be posted on Canvas.

Grading Policy

Grade Distribution:

  • Homework Assignments: 70%
  • Midterm Exam: 15%
  • Final Exam: 15%

Grading Scale:

  • A: 95-100
  • A-: 90-94
  • B+: 85-89
  • B: 80-84
  • B-: 75-79
  • C+: 70-74
  • C: 65-69
  • C-: 60-64
  • F: <60

Course Materials

All the course materials will be available in Canvas:

  • Lecture notes
  • Additional reading materials
  • Homework assignments
  • Exams

Expectations of Students

  • Students are expected to act professionally. A student's grade may be reduced (up to 5%) due to unprofessional or disruptive behavior. Please
    • Use professional style in all communications, including email, with course instructors and assistants
    • Respect: You are expected to treat your instructor and all other participants in the course with courtesy and respect. Your comments to others should be factual, constructive, and free from harassing statements. You are encouraged to disagree with other students and the instructor, but such disagreements need to be respectful and be based upon facts and documentation (rather than prejudices and personalities). Failing to adhere to this expectation may result in a lower grade. Part of the learning process in this course is the respectful engagement of ideas with others.
  • To avoid late penalty deductions, assignments should be submitted on or prior to the due date. There will be an automatic 10-point per day deduction in homework assignments submitted past the deadline.
  • Students are allowed to share ideas regarding homework problems, but each student must independently write and submit their own solution.
  • Makeup exams will be given provided that the two following conditions are simultaneously satisfied:
    1. You contact the instructor prior to the exam
    2. You have a valid and documented reason to miss the exam
      • Serious illness or family emergency are acceptable excuses
      • Sleeping in, lack of preparation, ennui, grogginess, etc. are not acceptable excuses

Use of Generative AI

This course follows Northeastern University’s Policy on the Use of AI Systems and the university’s Standards and Recommendations for the Use of Generative AI in Teaching and Learning. In homework assignments, generative AI tools may be used to help write and debug code (e.g., MATLAB or Python scripts) and to explore background material, provided that every submission states which tools were used and for what purpose, and that all derivations, analyses, and conclusions are your own and you can explain them. Individual assignments may restrict or require the use of AI; their instructions take precedence. Generative AI tools may not be used during exams. Undisclosed or unauthorized use of AI will be treated as a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy. Whenever possible, use Northeastern-supported AI tools.

Some course materials have been developed with the assistance of AI tools. All such content has been reviewed and edited by the instructor for accuracy.

Academic Integrity

A commitment to the principles of academic integrity is essential to the mission of Northeastern University. The promotion of independent and original scholarship ensures that students derive the most from their educational experience and their pursuit of knowledge. Academic dishonesty violates the most fundamental values of an intellectual community and undermines the achievements of the entire University.

As members of the academic community, students must become familiar with their rights and responsibilities. In each course, they are responsible for knowing the requirements and restrictions regarding research and writing, examinations of whatever kind, collaborative work, the use of study aids, the appropriateness of assistance, and other issues. Students are responsible for learning the conventions of documentation and acknowledgment of sources in their fields. Northeastern University expects students to complete all examinations, tests, papers, creative projects, and assignments of any kind according to the highest ethical standards, as set forth either explicitly or implicitly in this Code or by the direction of instructors.

Go to https://osccr.sites.northeastern.edu/academic-integrity-policy to access the full academic integrity policy. Violations may result in academic penalties in this course, up to and including a failing grade, and may be reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR).

Student Accommodations

Any student with a documented disability is encouraged to contact Disability Access Services (DAS) to coordinate reasonable accommodations as early in the semester as possible.

For more information, visit https://disabilityaccessservices.northeastern.edu/

Diversity and Inclusion

It is my intention that students from all backgrounds and perspectives will be well served by this course, and that the diversity that students bring to this class will be viewed as an asset. I welcome individuals of all ages, backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities, genders, gender identities, gender expressions, national origins, religious affiliations, sexual orientations, socioeconomic background, family education level, ability, and other visible and nonvisible differences. All members of this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment for every other member of the class. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated.

Please visit https://belonging.northeastern.edu/ for related university resources.

Title IX

Northeastern’s Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Title IX prohibits sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, and domestic violence, and applies to all members of the university community. Faculty, including the instructor of this course, are required to report information about such incidents to the Title IX Coordinator. Confidential support is available through the Sexual Violence Resource Center, University Health and Counseling Services, and university clergy.

In case of an emergency, please call 911 or the Northeastern University Police Department (NUPD) at 617-373-3333.

Please visit the Office for University Equity and Compliance at https://ouec.northeastern.edu/ for a complete list of reporting options and resources both on- and off-campus.