Grant: Alliance Grants

This project will develop Smart Electromagnetic (EM) Refractor surfaces in two strategic millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands around 28 GHz and 76 GHz, respectively, to achieve real-time beamforming capabilities for 5G and beyond wireless communication systems. These metasurface refractors will be developed in partnership with Dell Canada using advanced electromagnetic materials to achieve optical transparencies while being active at the mmWave frequencies. Variety of exotic materials such as graphene and tunable dielectric materials will be explored in this project to exploit their electronically tunable properties inside metasurface structures. Novel metasurface architectures will be developed based on monolithic processes where these advanced materials will be seamlessly integrated inside resonator arrays as opposed to hybrid fabrication processes currently used involving off-the-shelf circuit components. The project will first involve detailed characterization of materials and derivative electronic devices across various strategic bands, after which the metasurface resonator particles will be co-designed for desired beam-forming functionality. A variety of novel microfabrication processes are expected to be explored since the metasurface refractors will be developed from small-scale device level to large-scale surface implementations, including any electronic biasing networks for real-time control. The mmWave metasurface refractors developed will be targeted towards 5G radio environment engineering where they will act as smart windows to improve wireless coverage across multiple rooms, for instance.cThe proposed project will help develop high-speed data connectivity solutions to urban populations by bring the latest 5G mmWave technology which is still in its infancy in major Canadian cities, in addition to providing backbone communication infrastructure for rural and remote communities via high speed point-to-point data links, thus help close the digital divide in Canada. This will further strengthen the Canadian wireless industry, providing critical technological know-how in metamaterial sciences based on strong academic-industry partnerships for improved digital connectivity across Canada.