Picoseconds, which we once recognized as “one trillionth of a second”, have now become the key to solving 6G communication problems. A new signal control technology jointly developed by Rice University and multiple institutions in the United States.Equipping 6G signals with "instantaneous GPS" with picosecond-level time accuracy can lock the signal direction within a few trillionths of a second, with a positioning accuracy of 0.1 degrees, which is 10 times higher than existing technology.
This breakthrough directly hits the pain point of 6G development. As the next generation communication technology, 6G needs to rely on high-frequency bands such as terahertz to achieve massive data transmission. However, high-frequency signals attenuate quickly and have weak penetration. The transmitter and receiver must be accurately aligned. It is difficult to quickly establish a stable connection with traditional technology.
The picosecond-level time control capability allows signal positioning to achieve "instantaneous response" - the research team uses special metasurface materials to generate electromagnetic wave "fingerprints" with unique directions within a trillionth of a second, just like giving exclusive marks to signals in each direction.
This technology has received support from Cisco, Intel and the National Science Foundation, and was published in the journal Nature Communications Engineering.
