Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract
Research on Programmable Electromagnetic Surfaces has gained considerable attention as an enabling technology for 6G communications, particularly at millimeter-wave and sub-THz bands. However, RISs face challenges related to the need for high-performance reconfigurable techniques that offer compact size and reduced power consumption at high frequencies. Moreover, the experimental characterization of unit cell performance using a waveguide remains a challenging issue. This paper discusses the design and performance analysis of a 1-bit reconfigurable unit cell at the Dband using non-volatile reconfigurable technology. The efficiency analysis of the unit cell was performed using periodic boundary conditions and waveguide configurations to mitigate simulation risks and validate the proposed design at the unit cell level. All simulation configurations confirmed an operational bandwidth of 25.65 GHz across the 147.8-173.45 GHz range, with a reflection loss of less than 1 dB and a phase difference within 180 degrees +/- 20 degrees.

Abstract
Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) are expected to play a pivotal role in future indoor ultra high data rate wireless communications as well as highly accurate three-dimensional localization and sensing, mainly due to their capability to provide flexible, cost- and power-efficient coverage extension, even under blockage conditions. However, when considering beyond millimeter wave frequencies where there exists GHz-level available bandwidth, realistic models of indoor RIS-parameterized channels verified by field-trial measurements are unavailable. In this article, we first present and characterize three RIS prototypes with unit cells of half-wavelength intercell spacing, which were optimized to offer a specific nonspecular reflection with 1-, 2-, and 3-bit phase quantization at 304 GHz. The designed static RISs were considered in an indoor channel measurement campaign carried out with a 304 GHz channel sounder. Channel measurements for two setups, one focusing on the transmitter-RIS-receiver path gain and the other on the angular spread of multipath components, are presented and compared with both state-of-the-art theoretical models as well as full-wave simulation results. The article is concluded with a list of challenges and research directions for RIS design and modeling of RIS-parameterized channels at THz frequencies.