German Project to Develop Components for 6G, Measurement Technology

TOPTICA Photonics has initiated its involvement in the 6G ADLANTIK Project to develop components based on photonic-electronic integration for the terahertz frequency range. Under the project umbrella, collaborators will create signal sources and detectors that cover almost the entire targeted frequency range of 6G mobile radio.

TOPTICA will build stabilized laser systems, optical frequency combs, and waveguide structures to support development of 6G wireless technology, as part of the 6G-ADLANTIK Project. Courtesy of TOPTICA.

The network coordinator for the project is electronics group Rohde & Schwarz. Microwave Photonics GmbH, Berlin Institute of Technology, and Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute HHI (Fraunhofer HHI) serve as partners. SPINNER GmbH is an associate partner.

Sixth-generation mobile communications will enable new application scenarios in industry, medical technology, and everyday life. This will be accompanied by new requirements in terms of latency or the transmittable data rate, which cannot be met by current communication systems.

Supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the project members will build THz signal components composed of stabilized laser systems and optical frequency combs. Additionally, they develop and manufacture waveguide structures for the targeted frequency range. The developed waveguides will then be integrated with the photonic components to form transmitter and receiver units. With those steps completed, the individual components will be brought together to demonstrate a high-performance radio transmission system.

Beyond data communications, the developed components are targeted for innovative measurement technology; such THz measurement technology enables the precise characterization of components and concepts of novel 6G systems and to optimize performance parameters.