China has successfully completed a groundbreaking terahertz wireless communication experiment on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, marking a global first in the application of high-sensitivity superconducting receiver technology for long-distance wireless communication.
A joint experimental team, led by the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), transmitted high-definition video signals over a distance of 1.2 kilometers using terahertz technology. The experiment was conducted at an altitude of over 4,000 meters at a submillimeter-wave astronomical observation base in northwest China's Qinghai Province.
Remarkably, the transmission power used was just 10 microwatts—one-millionth the power of a typical mobile phone base station. Despite the incredibly weak signal strength, the team successfully received HD video through a superconducting terahertz receiver.
Li Jing, a researcher at PMO, explained the significance of terahertz communication compared to traditional microwave communication. “It’s like expanding a road from two lanes to six or eight,” she said, highlighting terahertz’s wider and richer spectrum resources. Superconducting detection technology further enhances efficiency, allowing signals to travel farther with minimal loss.
Terahertz (THz) radiation refers to electromagnetic waves with frequencies between 0.1 and 10 THz, lying between microwave and light bands. Considered a key resource for future communications, terahertz technology faces challenges in long-distance transmission due to severe signal attenuation.
To overcome these obstacles, Chinese researchers have been developing terahertz astronomical detection technologies since the 1990s. This recent experiment sets a new record for the farthest terahertz wireless communication distance above the 0.5 THz frequency band.
Shi Shengcai, an academician at the CAS, emphasized China’s advantages in this field. “The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau offers ideal conditions for such experiments,” he noted. “Combined with our advancements in superconducting detector technology, we are paving the way for breakthroughs in terahertz communication.”
The success of this experiment demonstrates the potential of superconducting receivers for long-distance terahertz communication. According to the research team, it opens new avenues for future space-based and air-to-ground communication systems with large data capacities.
Reference(s):
China completes first superconducting terahertz communication test
cgtn.com
