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PhD Studenthip: "Low-profile and broadband antennas for high-speed wireless at 300 GHz"

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
France
Closing date
Mar 2, 2018

Job Details

Project context

A more efficient use of available spectrum does not suffice to reach the ultra-large bandwidths (BWs) required by wireless systems beyond 5G, and the use of frequencies in the Terahertz (THz) gap is the key to enable ultra-large BW wireless. The frequency range between 275 and 350 GHz is particularly convenient, owing to the following advantages: a) it has not yet been allocated; b) it presents atmospheric atten-uation windows, which enable mid-range links and small cell deployment; c) the short wavelengths favor the design of on-chip antennas, integration and packaging; and d) THz links are less susceptible than optical wireless to air turbulence and humidity, fog, smoke, and rain.

One of the challenges in THz wireless communications consists in designing low-profile high-gain antennas efficiently coupled to continuous-wave THz sources at room temperature, to compensate for the propagation loss. Moreover, appropriate radiation patterns must be tailored for the antennas in each THz wireless system. For instance, directive pencil beams will suffice for point-to-point links, whereas small cells will demand a multi-beam system with broader angular coverage.

 

Objectives of the PhD offer

This project will explore and compare two different antenna architectures.

The first solution will consist of an array of one-dimensionally (1D) modulated metasurfaces (MTSs), fed by a quasi-optical beam-former in parallel-plate technology. The beam-former will provide a differ-ent phase profile for each MTS array. Thus, one may achieve multi-beam operation, while collimating the beam in the plane orthogonal to the 1D modulation.

Second, the candidate will study transmitarray (TA) antennas. In this case, the multi-beam operation will be obtained by using an array in the focal plane of the TA. This solution avoids feed and strut blockage encountered in reflector antennas, while keeping a good overall efficiency.

Both architectures are amenable to reconfigurability and offer key advantages: MTS antennas lead to ultra-thin structures, but with a limited bandwidth (< 8%), whereas TAs provide broader bandwidths (20% and beyond) at the expense of using a more bulky solution (F/D ~0.5).

The tasks will include a thorough literature review, the design of the MTS/TA unit cells, the analysis and design of the modulated MTS, the TA lens, the quasi-optical beamformer and the TA focal plane. Last but not least, special attention must will be paid to finding the most appropriate materials and fabrication techniques. By the end of the project, at least one prototype will be fabricated and measured at IETR´s World-class testing facilities.

Due to the large number of received applications, we will contact only the short-listed candidates.

Company

Global Academy Jobs works with over 250 universities worldwide to promote academic mobility and international research collaboration. Global problems need international solutions. Our jobs board and emails reach the academics and researchers who can help.

"The globalisation of higher education continues apace, driving in turn the ongoing development of the global knowledge economy, striving for solutions to the world’s problems and educating a next generation of leaders and contributors."

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