Ultra-fast Airy beams keep network flowing past walls and obstacles

Researchers at Princeton University have developed a novel wireless communication system that uses ultra-fast Airy beams—curved transmission paths—to navigate around indoor obstacles and maintain uninterrupted high-speed data flow. This innovation addresses a key limitation of sub-terahertz frequency signals, which, while capable of extremely high data rates needed for applications like virtual reality and autonomous vehicles, are easily blocked by walls, furniture, or people. By combining physics-based beam shaping with machine learning, the team trained a neural network to select and adapt the optimal Airy beam in real time, allowing signals to bend around obstacles rather than relying on reflection. To enable this adaptive capability, the researchers created a simulator that models countless indoor scenarios, allowing the neural network to learn effective beam configurations without exhaustive physical testing. This approach leverages physical principles to efficiently train the system, which then rapidly adjusts to dynamic environments, maintaining strong connections even in cluttered spaces. Experimental tests mimicking real-world indoor conditions demonstrated the system’s potential, marking a significant step toward