Prototype of KIOSK Data Downloading System at 300 GHz: Design, Technical Feasibility, and Results

Recent advances in semiconductor device technologies and the ever growing worldwide traffic explosion have focused great attention on THz frequencies, which had long been considered a forbidden region in the electromagnetic spectrum. The huge bandwidth, perhaps much larger than the total bandwidth used on Earth for all wireless systems, is now believed to be the only way to handle incredibly large amounts of data instantaneously by wireless means. In this article, we describe the development of a KIOSK data downloading system prototype designed for touch-and-go use. Implementation of the 300 GHz THz front-end components and the performance are briefly summarized. A preliminary investigation of the LoS channel responses and a simple comparison of the forward error correction algorithms in the given THz channel are presented as well. Finally, an experimental demonstration of instant data transfer with the prototype is described to confirm the feasibility of using the THz wave band for future wireless applications.