Dr Alan Davy, CONNECT researcher at TSSG in Waterford Institute of Technology, has sent us this Letter from Providence…
Hi all,
I’m here at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, attending a workshop discussing the future challenges and opportunities for THz communication. I’m being joined by a select group of world-leading experts on THz communication from the US, Europe, as well as Japan.
Brown University has one of the oldest engineering programs in the US, starting in 1847. I’ve been invited to participate in this workshop by Prof. Dan Mittleman, Professor of Engineering. The workshop is focusing on four core topics, namely, (i) electronic THz sources and systems, (ii) photonic THz sources and systems, (iii) networks, protocols and architectures and (iv) external systems and integration. I’ve been participating in discussions on photonic THz sources as well as networks, protocols and architectures. The discussion sessions aim to determine an agreed set of challenges for the topic, as well as identify first steps to address these.
My areas of interest focus on physical layer and media access layer protocols for THz communication. Due to the particularities of the THz band (which is above regular WiFi (microwave) radio spectrum and below Infra Red light) communication in this band has many advantages over current approaches. However, many challenges exist. For example, as THz radiation is highly directional, wireless network control protocols based on omni-directional broadcasting break down. How then do we discover other nodes, synchronise, setup and maintain connections?
My opinions and the opinions of the other participants will be discussed and merged towards the production of a road map report. Being invited to participate in this workshop, demonstrates the impact our THz communication research is having on the global THz communication community and impacting funding pathways in the US and most likely within the EU also.
So long from Providence!
Alan
CONNECT is the world leading Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Future Networks and Communications. CONNECT is funded under the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centres Programme and is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund. We engage with over 35 companies including large multinationals, SMEs and start-ups. CONNECT brings together world-class expertise from ten Irish academic institutes to create a one-stop-shop for telecommunications research, development and innovation.
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