Photonic Terahertz for 6G Communication

Terahertz (THz) communication has become a key enabling technology for the future sixth generation (6G) due to its rich spectrum resources, supporting emerging applications such as holographic communication and ultra-wideband transmission. This article provides a comprehensive review of recent advances in photonic THz communications, covering device, system, and antenna technologies. First, the electronic bottlenecks in conventional THz systems, including limited bandwidth and severe phase noise generated by frequency doubling, are discussed, emphasizing the advantages of photonic methods in ultra-wideband signal generation and seamless integration with fiber-optic networks. Then, the effects of the carrier transit time, absorber layer thickness, and saturation effects on the bandwidth efficiency performance in single-row carrier photodiodes are reviewed, as well as multi-parameter co-optimization strategies for an enhanced performance. In addition, the latest progress in high spectral efficiency (SE) multi-dimensional multiplexing, lightweight high-gain lens antennas and multi-antenna MIMO transmission mechanisms in multi-antenna THz systems are also summarized. Finally, the prospects and challenges of photonic THz communications in long-distance links and space applications are discussed.