A groundbreaking terahertz wireless communication test has been successfully completed by a joint team led by the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. This marks the first global application of high-sensitivity superconducting receiver technology for long-distance wireless communication, enabling the transmission of high-definition video over 1.2 kilometers.
The experiment was conducted at an altitude exceeding 4,000 meters in northwest China's Qinghai Province, utilizing a transmission power of just 10 microwatts—one-millionth the power of a typical mobile phone base station. Despite the weak signal strength, the team successfully received HD video through a superconducting terahertz receiver.
Li Jing, a PMO researcher, likened terahertz communication to expanding a road from two to eight lanes, thanks to its wider and richer spectrum resources. She emphasized that superconducting detection technology enhances efficiency, allowing signals to travel farther with minimal loss.
Terahertz (THz) radiation, spanning frequencies between 0.1 and 10 THz, bridges the gap between microwaves and light, and is considered a key resource for future communications. Overcoming challenges like severe signal attenuation, Chinese researchers have been developing terahertz astronomical detection technologies since the 1990s, with this experiment setting a new record for long-distance terahertz communication above the 0.5 THz frequency.
Shi Shengcai, an academician at CAS, highlighted China's advantages in this field, citing the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau's suitability for such experiments and the nation's advancements in superconducting detector technology. The success of this experiment demonstrates the potential of superconducting receivers 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
