Chinese Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in Terahertz Wireless Communication, A Leap Towards 6G and Space Communication
Chinese scientists have achieved a significant milestone in wireless communication, bringing the future of high-speed, long-distance data transmission closer to reality. In a groundbreaking experiment, a team led by the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) successfully transmitted high-definition video signals over a distance of more than one kilometer using terahertz (THz) wireless communication technology. This marks the world’s first successful application of high-sensitivity superconducting receiver technology in long-distance terahertz systems, highlighting a key advancement that could revolutionize both terrestrial and space communication.
Understanding Terahertz Technology
Terahertz radiation, or THz waves, occupy a unique segment of the electromagnetic spectrum, sitting between the microwave and infrared frequency bands. This part of the spectrum has remained relatively underexplored but is now being unlocked for advanced applications in security screening, medical diagnostics, and most notably, ultra-fast wireless communication. Unlike microwaves, which can be seen as narrow, two-lane roads, terahertz waves offer a wider highway for data transmission. As CAS research professor Li Jing explained, "Terahertz communication is like expanding that road to six or eight lanes, allowing much larger volumes of data to travel at unprecedented speeds."
A Key Step for 6G and Space Communications
Terahertz technology is gaining attention as a critical enabler for 6G, the next-generation wireless communication system set to succeed 5G. With its ability to carry large amounts of data over long distances, terahertz communication promises ultra-fast speeds necessary for future technologies like real-time virtual reality, smart cities, and autonomous vehicles. Moreover, the Chinese research team believes that this technology could be crucial for space communications, allowing massive amounts of real-time data to be transmitted over vast distances—a critical capability for deep-space exploration.
One of the primary challenges with terahertz communication has been overcoming signal attenuation, which causes signals to weaken over long distances. The breakthrough by the Chinese scientists involves integrating ultra-sensitive superconducting detection technology with terahertz systems, allowing signals to travel much farther without significant energy loss. This was demonstrated during the experiment, where a signal as weak as 10 microwatts—one-millionth the output of a typical mobile phone base station—successfully transmitted high-definition video over 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles). This is the longest successful terahertz transmission achieved to date, especially at frequencies above 0.5 THz.
Superconducting Detection: The Secret to Success
At the heart of this achievement is superconducting technology, which allows the detection of even the faintest signals with high sensitivity. Professor Li Jing compared this to driving a high-performance car on a newly widened road, where the energy efficiency is so great that signals experience minimal loss, traveling significantly farther. In their five-day experiment conducted at the submillimeter-wave astronomical observation base in Qinghai province, the scientists utilized superconducting detectors to capture and process terahertz signals with an unprecedented level of clarity and strength.
The Importance of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Site
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where the experiment was conducted, sits at an altitude of around 4,300 meters (14,107 feet), providing an optimal environment for terahertz communication tests. The high altitude and relatively low atmospheric interference make it an ideal location for conducting such cutting-edge experiments. The Purple Mountain Observatory, which focuses on high-energy astrophysics and space astronomical exploration, has been at the forefront of this technology since the 1990s.
The observatory’s collaboration with other leading scientific institutions, including the China Academy of Engineering Physics, Shanghai Normal University, and the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, underscores the breadth of expertise and interdisciplinary focus that has gone into making this achievement possible.
Laying the Groundwork for Future Applications
This successful experiment has not only set a new benchmark in the field of wireless communication but also laid the foundation for future advancements. According to the researchers, the technology could soon be used for space and air-to-ground communication systems, offering high-capacity, ultra-fast transmission that could revolutionize fields such as satellite internet and interplanetary communications.
Additionally, the experiment strengthens China’s position as a leader in the global race toward 6G development. While much of the world is still rolling out 5G networks, the ability to harness terahertz frequencies opens the door to the next generation of telecommunications, enabling applications that were once the realm of science fiction.
Terahertz wireless communication technology holds tremendous promise, not just for improving how we connect on Earth but for expanding our reach into space. With the advancements made by Chinese scientists, the era of ultra-fast, long-distance data transmission is on the horizon, and we are one step closer to realizing the full potential of 6G and beyond. The combination of terahertz communication with superconducting detection technology could transform the way we think about data transmission, unlocking new possibilities for innovation and exploration.
China’s decade-long investment in terahertz and superconducting technologies has positioned it at the forefront of this field. As Professor Shi Shengcai of the Purple Mountain Observatory noted, this achievement is the result of decades of research and collaboration, marking a new era in both communication technology and space exploration.
