Researchers at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are focusing on the terahertz (THz) band, providing key impetus for 6G and future communication technologies. A team comprising Dr. Arjun Singh, Director of the Wireless and Intelligent Next-generation Systems (WINGS) Center, Dr. Priyangshu Sen, and student researcher Justin Osmond, in collaboration with Professor Arjuna Madanayake from Florida International University, will present a newly established terahertz experimental testbed at the 59th IEEE Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers on October 28. Their paper, J-Band Communication Systems Considering the Near-Field to Far-Field Transition—An Experimental Approach, proposes a fully functional hardware and software backbone testbed for exploring wireless signal behavior at terahertz frequencies (0.1–10THz), a critical frontier for ultra-high-speed data transmission, secure communications, and intelligent sensing systems.

The research centers on a dedicated J-band testbed (220–330GHz) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute's Advanced Communications Electronics and Sensing (ACES) Laboratory, enabling experimental studies of near-field and far-field communication channels and providing data essential for modeling and improving future terahertz wireless links. Drs. Singh and Sen noted that the terahertz band holds revolutionary potential for communication technologies, offering unprecedented data rates, high-resolution sensing, and enhanced security. However, its unique propagation characteristics—such as significant near-field effects and asymmetric uplink/downlink properties—pose numerous challenges, requiring a combination of theoretical modeling and practical experimentation. Dr. Singh emphasized, "The terahertz band represents the next major leap in communication technology. Our research provides an experimental platform for understanding signal behavior during the transition between near-field and far-field regions, which is crucial for building next-generation high-speed, energy-efficient, and secure wireless systems."

Unlike low-frequency systems, the near-field region of terahertz antennas can extend tens of meters, dramatically altering signal propagation and its interaction with the environment. Traditional models no longer apply, necessitating new mathematical frameworks and experimental validation. The research team designed and validated a path loss model that simultaneously accounts for near-field and far-field propagation mechanisms, using their proprietary ACES testbed for experimentation. This demonstrated the direct impact of antenna characteristics on terahertz channel performance. The results indicate that near-field terahertz communication channels are inherently asymmetric, with uplink and downlink capacities varying based on antenna configurations—a finding that could significantly influence 6G network design and standardization efforts. This research contributes to global efforts in developing terahertz communication standards and applications, with the team’s next steps including refining the terahertz testbed, enhancing channel modeling capabilities, and exploring novel antenna architectures.