Challenges in Terahertz Fiber Based Inter-device Communications

High bit rate wireless communications in the millimeter and Terahertz (THz) frequency range is rapidly advancing to meet the required bandwidth demand. However, wireless transmission possesses high free space path loss due to restricted smaller aperture size of the antenna even for a short link (few meters) inter-device communications. Therefore, a low loss fiber-based communication link is an ideal solution. In this work, we discuss the challenges in free space coupling and polarization alignment of a fiber based short distance communication link at the carrier frequency of 140 GHz. A commercial dielectric 3D printing filament made of polypropylene material with a diameter of 1.75 mm is used as the solid core fiber for signal transmission. A photonics-based THz communication system is used to characterize the fiber. The performance of the fiber is measured by recording the bit error rate (BER) for the transmitted data rate of 5 Gbps with a pattern length of 231-1. By butt coupling the fiber at both emitter and detector, the BER of 10−7 is achieved for the link length of 5 m.

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