Curving Light for Improved Wireless Comms... Sort of
Curving Light for Improved Wireless Comms... Sort of 
Growing Data Needs and the Race to Expand Wireless Bandwidth
In today's digital age, the demand for data is skyrocketing as more devices become interconnected. New technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), smartphones, smart homes, smart cities (can you see the pattern here?) continue to develop, and this surge in data consumption has led to increased pressure on existing Wi-Fi bands, which are rapidly filling up and becoming congested. Researchers at institutions like Rice and Brown University are exploring innovative solutions to address these challenges, including manipulating terahertz waves to expand bandwidth and meet future data needs.
The Growing Demand for Data
With the proliferation of smartphones, smart homes, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation, the volume of data we generate, transmit, and consume has reached unprecedented levels. Cisco's Annual Internet Report forecasts that by 2023, there will be 5.3 billion internet users globally, with each user consuming an average of 17 GB of data per month. The increasing demand for high-speed internet and low-latency connectivity has significantly strained existing Wi-Fi bands, particularly the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands commonly used in wireless networks.
Congestion in Wi-Fi Bands
The congestion of Wi-Fi bands is a growing concern as more devices compete for limited bandwidth. This congestion results in slower internet speeds, increased latency, and decreased reliability, which can hinder the performance of data-intensive applications such as video streaming, online gaming, and remote work solutions. To alleviate this congestion, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States recently opened the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use, providing additional spectrum for Wi-Fi networks. However, even with this expansion, the long-term demand for bandwidth is expected to outpace the available spectrum.
Terahertz Waves: A New Frontier for Bandwidth Expansion
To address the growing bandwidth needs, researchers are turning to terahertz waves, which operate between 100 GHz and 10 THz. These waves rest between microwaves and infrared rays in the electromagnetic spectrum and have the potential to offer significantly more bandwidth than current Wi-Fi bands. They will enable faster data transmission rates and support the next generation of wireless technologies—if we can overcome the challenges they pose.
At Rice University and Brown University, researchers are exploring innovative methods to harness terahertz waves for wireless communication. One of the key challenges in using terahertz waves is their tendency to spread out and dissipate quickly, making it difficult to maintain a focused signal over long distances. To overcome this challenge, researchers are developing techniques to curve and focus terahertz waves, enhancing their propagation and enabling efficient data transmission.
By leveraging advanced materials and metamaterials, researchers can manipulate the properties of terahertz waves, allowing them to bend and curve around obstacles. This capability opens up new possibilities for transmitting data over longer distances without losing signal strength. The ability to curve terahertz waves also facilitates the creation of more compact and efficient antennas, essential for integrating terahertz technology into consumer devices and infrastructure.
