6G Communications unlocked in Uni Adelaide device

A team of scientists has unlocked the potential of 6G communications with a new polarisation multiplexer mounted on a silicon chip.

Terahertz communications represent the next frontier in wireless technology, promising data transmission rates far exceeding current systems, according to the University of Adelaide.

However, one of the significant challenges in terahertz communications is effectively managing and utilising the available spectrum.

A university team has developed the first ultra-wideband integrated terahertz polarisation (de)multiplexer implemented on a substrateless silicon base which they have successfully tested in the sub-terahertz J-band (220-330 GHz) for 6G communications and beyond.

The University of Adelaide’s Professor Withawat Withayachumnankul from the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering led the team which also includes former PhD student Dr Weijie Gao, who is now a postdoctoral researcher working alongside Professor Masayuki Fujita at Osaka University.

Professor Withayachumnankul said: “Our proposed polarisation multiplexer will allow multiple data streams to be transmitted simultaneously over the same frequency band, effectively doubling the data capacity,”.

“This large relative bandwidth is a record for any integrated multiplexers found in any frequency range.

“If it were to be scaled to the centre frequency of the optical communications bands, such a bandwidth could cover all the optical communications bands.”

A multiplexer makes it possible for several input signals to share one device or resource – such as the data of several phone calls being carried on a single wire.

The new device that the team has developed can double the communication capacity under the same bandwidth with lower data loss than existing devices, and it is made using standard fabrication processes.

Dr Gao said: “This innovation not only enhances the efficiency of terahertz communication systems but also paves the way for more robust and reliable high-speed wireless networks.

“As a result, the polarisation multiplexer is a key enabler in realising the full potential of terahertz communications, driving forward advancements in various fields such as high-definition video streaming, augmented reality, and next-generation mobile
networks such as 6G.”

The team’s work has been published in the journal Laser & Photonic Reviews.

Over the following three-to-five years, the team expects to see significant advancements in high-speed communications, leading to commercial prototypes and early-stage products.

Image: University of Adelaide