Doctoral Thesis: New Frontiers in Silicon Terahertz Electronics: Wirelessly Powered THz-ID and Secure THz Links

Muhammad Ibrahim Wasiq Khan

Abstract:
Advances in silicon integrated electronics have enabled many significant systems and applications in the terahertz (THz) band over the last decade. However, ultra-low-power (<25uW) or battery-less THz transceivers have not been explored yet due to the stringent challenges posed by them. Likewise, the notion of wireless power transfer at THz frequency is non-existence. There is a growing demand for low-power mm-size transceivers in supply chain management, assets tracking, authentication, micro-robotics, on-skin or close-to-skin implants, etc. With these ubiquitous THz-links, the security of the wireless channels is another emerging challenge. Advanced digital encryption techniques are computationally intensive, power-hungry, and not suited for these low-power applications. This thesis explores the challenges and novel approaches to realizing ultra-low-power and physically secure THz transceivers. Specifically, it demonstrates three new frontiers in standard CMOS technologies that will open up the THz band. The first is a mm-size THz identification tag enabling uW level THz link by exploiting backscattering and beam-steering functionalities. The second is the optimization based on dual-antenna architecture for THz energy harvesting with ~25uW harvesting capability. And the third is developing an orbital-angular-momentum wave-based physical-layer security scheme for secret key distribution at THz frequencies.

Details

• Date: Wednesday, April 20
• Time: 11:00 am
• Location: via Zoom

Additional Location Details:

Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Ruonan Han

To attend this defense via zoom, please contact the doctoral candidate at ibrahimw@mit.edu