Overview
Future generation of wireless communications, also known as 6G, will rely on THz bands, which offers unprecedented possibilities. Current front-end architectures are not mainly suitable for THz band applications, as they would be either too expensive or impractical. Space-time coded arrays are one of the concepts that can be exploited to mitigate the complexity and cost of the front-end architecture in THz band. Space-time coded arrays enable different adjustments in 4 dimensions, namely space and time, on the waves that interact with the array, depending on the particular communications or sensing application.
This project aims to design, fabricate and test of a coding meta-surface that can be dynamically controlled in space and time. The goal is to use such meta-surface as part of a transmitter front-end to modulate/steer an interacting THz carrier wave for sending data.
Objectives
• Developing a fast-switching scheme that can be integrated into the unit cells of the meta-surface
• Designing unit cells with changing state to affect phase/amplitude of the interacting wave
• Design, fabrication and test of the whole meta-surface and the associated state control unit
• Establishing a point-to-point connection to transmit data from the meta-surface to a receiver, and examining the received signals
• Improving the entire system to achieve the optimal performance in data rate and beam steering capability
Funding Information
To be eligible for consideration for a Home DfE or EPSRC Studentship (covering tuition fees and maintenance stipend of approx. £19,237 per annum), a candidate must satisfy all the eligibility criteria based on nationality, residency and academic qualifications.
To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria and the associated residency requirements:
• Be a UK National,
or • Have settled status,
or • Have pre-settled status,
or • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter the UK.
Candidates from ROI may also qualify for Home student funding.
Previous PhD study MAY make you ineligible to be considered for funding.
Please note that other terms and conditions also apply.
Please note that any available PhD studentships will be allocated on a competitive basis across a number of projects currently being advertised by the School.
A small number of international awards will be available for allocation across the School. An international award is not guaranteed to be available for this project, and competition across the School for these awards will be highly competitive.
Academic Requirements:
The minimum academic requirement for admission is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI Higher Education provider in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.
Entrance requirements
Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.
International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).
International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen’s University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
