Resonant tunneling diode-integrated terahertz transceiver module for wireless communications

Abstract

Terahertz bands enable ultra-broadband wireless communications but require compact, low-cost, and efficient transceiver modules. Conventional implementations based on metallic waveguides or silicon lenses suffer from high loss, bulkiness, and fabrication complexity. Here, we present a compact terahertz transceiver module enabled by a resonant tunneling diode (RTD) integrated with a photonic-electronic antenna chain. The RTD on InP is coupled to a modified Vivaldi antenna and an all-silicon effective-medium-clad waveguide, terminating in a rod antenna interfaced with a 3D-printed cyclic olefin copolymer lens. This architecture enables broadband directive radiation without matching networks or anti-reflection coatings. Packaged in a low-cost 3D-printed PLA enclosure, the module achieves realized gains of 28-33 dBi (E11x) and 30-33 dBi (E11y) across 220-330 GHz. As a receiver, it exhibits a noise voltage density of 5.6 x 10^-9 V/sqrt(Hz), a minimum noise equivalent power of 1.8 pW/sqrt(Hz), and an average responsivity of 6.8 kV/W. It supports error-free transmission up to 30 Gbit/s (OOK) and 80 Gbit/s (16-QAM) over 10 cm, and enables real-time uncompressed high-definition video streaming over 1 m. As a transmitter, it achieves error-free OOK transmission up to 12 Gbit/s at 332 GHz. These results demonstrate a promising terahertz transceiver architecture for 6G systems.