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18 pages, 757 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preamble Design and Noncoherent ToA Estimation for Pulse-Based Wireless Networks-on-Chip Communications in the Terahertz Band

by Pankaj Singh and Sung-Yoon Jung

Micromachines 2025, 16(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16010070 - 8 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1042

Abstract

The growing demand for high-speed data transfer and ultralow latency in wireless networks-on-chips (WiNoC) has spurred exploration into innovative communication paradigms. Recent advancements highlight the potential of the terahertz (THz) band, a largely untapped frequency range, for enabling ultrafast tera-bit-per-second links in chip multiprocessors. However, the ultrashort duration of THz pulses, often in the femtosecond range, makes synchronization a critical challenge, as even minor timing errors can cause significant data loss. This study introduces a preamble-aided noncoherent synchronization scheme for time-of-arrival (ToA) estimation in pulse-based WiNoC communication operating in the THz band (0.02–0.8 THz). The scheme transmits the preamble, a known sequence of THz pulses, at the beginning of each symbol, allowing the energy-detection receiver to collect and analyze the energy of the preamble across multiple integrators. The integrator with maximum energy output is then used to estimate the symbol’s ToA. A preamble design based on maximum pulse energy constraints is also presented. Performance evaluations demonstrate a synchronization probability exceeding

0.98

for distances under 10 mm at a signal-to-noise ratio of 20 dB, with a normalized mean squared error below

10^{- 2}

. This scheme enhances synchronization reliability, supporting energy-efficient, high-performance WiNoCs for future multicore systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Terahertz Devices and Applications)

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34 pages, 4527 KiB

Open AccessReview

Key Roles of Plasmonics in Wireless THz Nanocommunications—A Survey

by Efthymios Lallas

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(24), 5488; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9245488 - 13 Dec 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5765

Abstract

Wireless data traffic has experienced an unprecedented boost in past years, and according to data traffic forecasts, within a decade, it is expected to compete sufficiently with wired broadband infrastructure. Therefore, the use of even higher carrier frequency bands in the THz range, via adoption of new technologies to equip future THz band wireless communication systems at the nanoscale is required, in order to accommodate a variety of applications, that would satisfy the ever increasing user demands of higher data rates. Certain wireless applications such as 5G and beyond communications, network on chip system architectures, and nanosensor networks, will no longer satisfy speed and latency demands with existing technologies and system architectures. Apart from conventional CMOS technology, and the already tested, still promising though, photonic technology, other technologies and materials such as plasmonics with graphene respectively, may offer a viable infrastructure solution on existing THz technology challenges. This survey paper is a thorough investigation on the current and beyond state of the art plasmonic system implementation for THz communications, by providing in-depth reference material, highlighting the fundamental aspects of plasmonic technology roles in future THz band wireless communication and THz wireless applications, that will define future demands coping with users’ needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Applications in Optics and Photonics: From Sensing and Analytics to Communication)

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