A Dual-Broadband Liquid-Crystal Programmable Metasurface and Its Application in Terahertz Wireless Communications

Terahertz communication technology is envisioned as a promising candidate for the pivotal spectrum technology in future wireless communication networks. However, the limited penetration ability of terahertz waves makes line-of-sight (LoS) transmission indispensable, hindering the extensive application of terahertz communications. In this work, a novel liquid-crystal programmable metasurface (LCPM) is proposed for the first time, which can effectively achieve dual-broadband beam manipulation to improve link stability and extend coverage for terahertz communications in non-line-of-sight (NLoS) scenarios. The LCPM is operated in both the W band that covers 94 GHz and the D band that covers 140 GHz, corresponding to x-polarized and y-polarized wave incidence, respectively. Based on the proposed LCPM, realistic NLoS terahertz communication links are established and showcased. Communication measurements substantiate that the LCPM is capable of realizing extensive dynamic channel regulations and long-distance communications across both bands in various modulation schemes, supporting real-time high-speed video transmission. The experimental results validate the feasibility of employing the LCPM for terahertz wireless communications, paving the way for developing and implementing ubiquitous terahertz communication networks even with LoS blockage.