NSF-AoF: CISE Core: Small: Enabling Mobile Terahertz Communication for 6G Cellular Networks

Funding agency

National Science Foundation

Academy of Finland

Award number

2225590

Dates

October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2025

Description

Following the commercial deployment of the fifth generation (5G) of wireless cellular networks, the wireless research community has started defining the technologies that will be part of the next generation of mobile networks. Recent evolution in device technologies has brought the sub-terahertz and terahertz bands (broadly speaking the frequencies between 100 GHz and 3 THz of the electromagnetic spectrum) into the spotlight as an enabler for terabit-per-second communications (i.e., two orders of magnitude higher than current 5G networks) in the sixth generation (6G) networks, allowing for the development of new transformative use cases such as holographic telepresence in the metaverse. Most of the research so far has focused on understanding the capabilities of THz devices, the peculiarities of THz wave propagation, and how to engineer around them. However, integrating the THz spectrum in truly mobile and complex cellular networks requires a proper design of the full communication stack. To investigate, conceive and test the solutions that will enable 6G mobile networks in the terahertz band is the goal of this effort. The project contributes to the scientific development of THz communications as well as to the early standardization efforts of the same, all while training students from diverse backgrounds at the high school, undergraduate and graduate levels.

The goal of this effort is to create novel solutions to provide consistent, ultra-high data rates in 6G mobile terahertz networks by improving the reliability and efficiency of the physical and link layers, and by introducing mechanisms for service continuity and management of intermittent connectivity at the system level. To accomplish this ambitious goal, the project has been organized in three intertwined thrusts. Thrust 1 develops channel modeling methodologies that constitute the foundation of the modeling and evaluation activities of the rest of the project. Thrust 2 designs protocols and algorithms for the mobile THz physical and link layers. Finally, Thrust 3 builds system-level solutions to support application requirements, with a multi-pronged approach that aims at improving session continuity and application performance with intermittent connectivity.

Personnel

Collaborators

Dr. Michele Polese (Co-PI)

Prof. Yevgeny Khoucheryavy

Dr. Dmitri Moltchanov

UN Lab publications

D. Bodet, V. Petrov, S. Petrushkevich, J. M. Jornet, “Sub-terahertz near field channel measurements and analysis with beamforming and Bessel beams,” Scientific Reports, vol. 14, pp. 19675, Aug. 2024. PDF
R. Mundlamuri, S. Badran, R. Gangula, F. Kaltenberger, J. M. Jornet, and T. Melodia, “5G Over terahertz using OpenAirInterface,” in Proc. of the 19th Wireless On-Demand Network Systems and Services Conference (WONS), Chamonix, France, Jan. 2024. PDF
Z. Shaikhanov, S. Badran, H. Guerboukha, J. M. Jornet, D. M. Mittleman, and E. W. Knightly, “MetaFly: Wireless Backhaul Interception via Aerial Wavefront Manipulation,” in the Proc. of the 2024 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (SP), San Francisco, CA, USA, May 2024. PDF
S. Abadal, C. Han, V. Petrov, L. Galluccio, I. F. Akyildiz, J. M. Jornet, “Electromagnetic Nanonetworks Beyond 6G: From Wearable and Implantable Networks to On-chip and Quantum Communication,” IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 42, no. 8, pp. 2122 – 2142, Aug. 2024. PDF
V. Petrov, J. M. Jornet, and A. Singh, “Near-field 6G Networks: Why Mobile Terahertz Communications MUST Operate in the Near Field,” in the Proc. of the 2023 IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 2023. PDF
C. T. Parisi, S. Badran, P. Sen, V. Petrov, and J. M. Jornet, “Modulations for terahertz band communications: Joint analysis of phase noise impact and PAPR effects,” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society,  vol. 5, pp. 412–429, Jan. 2024. PDF
Z. Shaikhanov, S. Badran, J. M. Jornet, D. M. Mittleman, and E. W. Knightly, “Remotely positioned metasurface-drone attack,” in Proceedings of the 24th International Workshop on Mobile Computing Systems and Applications, ser. HotMobile ’23, Newport Beach, California: Association for Computing Machinery, Feb. 2023, pp. 110–116. PDF
P. Testolina, M. Polese, J. M. Jornet, T. Melodia, and M. Zorzi, “Modeling Interference for the Coexistence of 6G Networks and Passive Sensing Systems,” in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 23, no. 8, pp. 9220 – 9234, Aug. 2024. PDF
V. Petrov, H. Guerboukha, A. Singh, and J. M. Jornet, “Wavefront Hopping for Physical Layer Security in 6G and Beyond Near-Field THz Communications,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, accepted, 2024.
P. Sen, S. Badran, V. Petrov, A. Singh, and J. M. Jornet, “Impact of the Antenna on the Sub-Terahertz Indoor Channel Characteristics: An Experimental Approach,” in the Proc. of the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC), Denver, CO, USA, June 2024. PDF
M. Polese, X. Cantos-Roman, A. Singh, M. J. Marcus, T. J. Maccarone, T. Melodia, and J. M. Jornet, “Coexistence and Spectrum Sharing Above 100 GHz,” in Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 111, no. 8, pp. 928-954, August 2023. PDF
S. Aliaga, V. Petrov, and J. M. Jornet, “Modeling Interference from Millimeter Wave and Terahertz Bands Cross-Links in Low Earth Orbit Satellite Networks for 6G and Beyond,” in IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 42, no. 5, pp. 1371 – 1386, May 2024. PDF

Publications

  • Shah, Vijay and Bubley, Dean and Geraci, Giovanni and Polese, Michele and Oughton, Edward and Blue, Scott (2024). Reviewing wireless broadband technologies in the peak smartphone era: 6G versus Wi-Fi 7 and 8. 48. (6). Telecommunications Policy, 48. 102766. Published. 0308-5961.
  • Lagén, Sandra and Pagin, Matteo and Bojovic, Biljana and Polese, Michele and Zorzi, Michele (2023). Improving the Efficiency of MIMO Simulations in ns-3. WNS3 ’23: Proceedings of the 2023 Workshop on ns-3. 1 to 9.
  • Gargari, Amir Ashtari and Zorzi, Michele and Pagin, Matteo and Polese, Michele (2023). 6G Integrated Access and Backhaul Networks with Sub-Terahertz Links. 2023 18th Wireless On-Demand Network Systems and Services Conference (WONS). 13 to 19.

Broader Impacts

  • We have hosted groups of 15-20 students visiting Northeastern from local high schools, as part of orientation experiences focused on STEM and applications. The students have been exposed to easy-to-understand demonstrations on 6G terahertz technology.
  • We have participated in the IEEE 802.15 Standing Committee (SC) Terahertz quarterly meetings. Moreover, our previously developed optimized constellation design for APSK modulations, are now part of the IEEE 802.15.3-2023, for communications in the 300 GHz band.
  • As a full member, we have actively participated in different International Telecommunication Union (ITU) working groups, including USWP1A Spectrum Engineering Techniques, USWP7C Remote Sensing Systems, and USWP7D Radio Astronomy.
  • We have participated in the biweekly meetings of the mmWave Coalition, an industry group aimed at removing the regulatory barriers to technologies and using frequencies between 95 GHz and 450 GHz. Our institute was the second to join (January 2020) and still one of only four academic members of the mmWave Coalition. Together, we have engaged in discussions with the NTIA and FCC on spectrum-sharing issues above 100 GHz.
  • We have actively participated in the NextG Alliance (NGA) Spectrum and Technology Working Groups. We served as the lead editor for the sub-THz and THz section in the NGA Radiotechnology White paper and contributed to the NGA Spectrum for 6G White paper.