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Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces Aided Terahertz Communication for 6G: Challenges and Potential Solutions

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Abstract

Recently, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) aided design has been introduced for next-generation wireless networks to enhance system performance. Further, Terahertz (THz) communication has emerged as a promising technology to provide ultra-wide bandwidth satisfying varieties of emerging applications in 6G. The article considers the integration of RIS with THz communication to improve the performance of the 6G network. RIS-aided THz system is utilized both active and passive beamforming at the transmitter (Tx) and RIS, respectively. We survey and highlight how RIS may impact the design of THz systems with the possible challenges and potential solutions. The phase optimization and channel estimation are discussed for the RIS-aided THz system. The impact of beamforming, hardware impairments, and signal propagation is considered. We comprehensively discuss the opportunities and challenges of RIS in THz future communication scenarios.

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No standard data set and material are used in the paper.

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The software codes generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgments

This research is supported by DST Inria under the project `machine learning enabled next-generation IoT communications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IIT (BHU) Varanasi, Varanasi, India

    Sanjeev Sharma

  2. IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India

    Kuntal Deka

  3. Aberystwyth University, Penglais, Aberystwyth SY23 3FL, UK

    Amit Mishra

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  1. Sanjeev Sharma
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  2. Kuntal Deka
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Correspondence to Sanjeev Sharma.

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Sharma, S., Deka, K. & Mishra, A. Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces Aided Terahertz Communication for 6G: Challenges and Potential Solutions. Wireless Pers Commun 134, 1827–1841 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-024-10985-9

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