Terahertz (THz) waves (300 GHz to 10 THz) constitute the least studied part of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum with unique propagation properties that make them attractive to emerging sensing and imaging application. As opposed to optical signals, THz waves can penetrate several non-metallic materials (e.g., plastic, wood, and thin tissues), thus enabling several applications in security monitoring, non-destructive evaluation, and biometrics. Additionally, THz waves scatter on most surfaces distinctively compared with lower/higher frequencies (e.g., microwave/optical bands). Therefore, based on these two interesting THz wave propagation properties, namely penetration and scattering, I worked on THz imaging methods that explore non-line-of-sight (NLoS) information. First, I use a THz microscopy method to probe the fingertips as a new technique for fingerprint scanning. Due to the wave penetration in the THz range, I can exploit sub-skin traits not visible with current approaches to obtain a more robust and secure fingerprint scanning method. I also fabricated fingerprint spoofs using latex to compare the imaging results between real and fake fingers. Next, I focus on THz imaging hardware topologies and algorithms for longer-distance imaging applications. As such, I compare the imaging performance of dense and sparse antenna arrays through simulations and measurements. I show that sparse arrays with nonuniform amplitudes can provide lower side lobes in the images. Besides, although sparse arrays feature a much smaller total number of elements, dense arrays have advantages when imaging scenarios with multiple objects. Afterward, I propose a THz imaging method to see around obstacles/corners. THz waves’ unique scattering properties are helpful to implement around-the-corner imaging. I carried out both simulations and measurements in various scenarios to validate the proposed method. The results indicate that THz waves can reveal the hidden scene with centimeter-scale resolution using proper rough surfaces and moderately sized apertures. Moreover, I demonstrate that this imaging technique can benefit simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) in future communication systems. NLoS images enable accurate localization of blocked users, hence increasing the link robustness. I present both simulation and measurement results to validate this SLAM method. I also show that better localization accuracy is achieved when the user's antenna is omnidirectional rather than directional.

This work focuses on the analysis and design of large-scale millimeter-wave andterahertz (mmWave/THz) beamforming apertures (e.g., reconfigurable reflective surfaces– RRSs). As such, the small wavelengths and ample bandwidths of these frequencies enable the development of high-spatial-resolution imaging and high-throughput wireless communication systems that leverage electrically large apertures to form high-gain steerable beams. For the rigorous evaluation of these systems’ performance in realistic application scenarios, full-wave simulations are needed to capture all the exhibited electromagnetic phenomena. However, the small wavelengths of mmWave/THz bands lead to enormous meshes in conventional full-wave simulators. Thus, a novel numerical decomposition technique is presented, which decomposes the full-wave models in smaller domains with less meshed elements, enabling their computationally efficient analysis. Thereafter, this method is leveraged to study a novel radar configuration that employs a rotating linear antenna with beam steering capabilities to form 3D images. This imaging process requires fewer elements to carry out high-spatial-resolution imaging compared to traditional 2D phased arrays, constituting a perfect candidate in low-profile, low-cost applications. Afterward, a high-yield nanofabrication technique for mmWave/THz graphene switches is presented. The measured graphene sheet impedances are incorporated into equivalent circuit models of coplanar switches to identify the optimum mmWave/THz switch topology that would enable the development of large-scale RRSs.ii Thereon, the process of integrating the optimized graphene switches into largescale mmWave/THz RRSs is detailed. The resulting RRSs enable dynamic beam steering achieving 4-bits of phase quantization –for the first time in the known literature– eliminating the parasitic lobes and increasing the aperture efficiency. Furthermore, the devised multi-bit configurations use a single switch-per-bit topology retaining low system complexity and RF losses. Finally, single-bit RRSs are modified to offer single-lobe patterns by employing a surface randomization technique. This approach allows for the use of low-complexity single-bit configurations to suppress the undesired quantization lobes without residing to the use of sophisticated multi-bit topologies. The presented concepts pave the road toward the implementation and proliferation of large-scale reconfigurable beamforming apertures that can serve both as mmWave/THz imagers and as relays or base stations in future wireless communication applications.

In this thesis, the synergy between millimeter-wave (mmWave) imaging and wireless communications is used to achieve high accuracy user localization and mapping (SLAM) mobile users in an uncharted environment. Such capability is enabled by taking advantage of the high-resolution image of both line-of-sight (LoS) and non-line-of-sight (NLoS) objects that mmWave imaging provides, and by utilizing angle of arrival (AoA) and time of arrival (ToA) estimators from communications. The motivations of this work are as follows: first, enable accurate SLAM from a single viewpoint i.e., using only one antenna array at the base station without any prior knowledge of the environment. The second motivation is the ability to localize in NLoS-only scenarios where the user signal may experience more than one reflection until it reaches the base station. As such, this proposed work will not make any assumptions on what region the user is and will use mmWave imaging techniques that will work for both near and far field region of the base station and account for the scattering properties of mmWave. Similarly, a near field signal model is developed to correctly estimate the AoA regardless of the user location.

This SLAM approach is enabled by reconstructing the mmWave image of the environment as seen by the base station. Then, an uplink pilot signal from the user is used to estimate both AoA and ToA of the dominant channel paths. Finally, AoA/ToA information is projected into the mmWave image to fully localize the user. Simulations using full-wave electromagnetic solvers are carried out to emulate an environment both in the near and far field. Then, to validate, an experiment carried in laboratory by creating a simple two-dimensional scenario in the 220-300 GHz range using a synthesized 13-cm linear antenna array formed by using vector network analyzer extenders and a one-dimensional linear motorized stage that replicates the base station. After taking measurements, this method successfully reconstructs the image of the environment and localize the user position with centimeter accuracy.

The objective of this work is to design a low-profile compact Terahertz (THz) imaging system that can be installed in portable devices, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or CubeSats. Taking advantage of the rotational motion of these platforms, one can use linear antennas, such as leaky-wave antennas or linear phased arrays, to achieve fast image acquisition using simple RF front-end topologies. The proposed system relies on a novel image reconstructing technique that uses the principles of computerized tomography (Fourier-slice theorem). It can be implemented using a rotating antenna that produces a highly astigmatic fan-beam. In this work, the imaging system is composed of a linear phased antenna array with a highly directive beam pattern in the E-plane allowing for high spatial resolution imaging. However, the pattern is almost omnidirectional in the H-plane and extends beyond the required field-of-view (FOV). This is a major drawback as the scattered signals from any interferer outside the FOV will still be received by the imaging aperture and cause distortion in the reconstructed image. Also, fan beams exhibit significant distortion (curvature) when tilted at large angles, thus introducing errors in the final image due to its failure to achieve the assumed reconstructing algorithm.

Therefore, a new design is proposed to alleviate these disadvantages. A 14×64 elements non-uniform array with an optimal flat-top pattern is designed with an iterative process using linear perturbation of a close starting pattern until the desired pattern is acquired. The principal advantage of this design is that it restricts the radiated/received power into the required FOV. As a result, a significant enhancement in the quality of images is achieved especially in the mitigation of the effect of any interferer outside the FOV. In this report, these two designs are presented and compared in terms of their imaging efficiency along with a series of numerical results verifying the proof of concept.

The impact of finite dielectric-covered ground-plane edge diffractions on the amplitude patterns of circular apertures is investigated. The model is based on the Geometrical Optics (GO) and the Uniform Theory of Diffraction (UTD) for an impedance wedge. The circular aperture antenna is mounted on square and circular finite ground planes that are coated with a thin lossy dielectric layer. The predictions based on the GO/UTD model are validated by comparisons to experimental results and simulated data.

Antennas are required now to be compact and mobile. Traditional horizontally polarized antennas are placed in a quarter wave distance from a ground plane making the antenna system quite bulky. High impedance surfaces are proposed for an antenna ground in close proximity. A new method to achieve a high impedance surface is suggested using a metamaterial comprising an infinite periodic array of conducting loops each of which is loaded with a non-Foster element. The non-Foster element cancels the loop's inductance resulting in a material with high effective permeability. Using this material as a spacer layer, it is possible to achieve a high impedance surface over a broad bandwidth. The proposed structure is different from Sievenpiper's high impedance surface because it has no need for a capacitive layer. As a result, however, it does not suppress the propagation of surface wave modes. The proposed structure is compared to another structure with frequency selective surface loaded with a non-Foster element on a simple spacer layer. In particular, the sensitivity of each structure to component tolerances is considered. The proposed structure shows a high impedance surface over broadband frequency but is much more sensitive than the frequency selective surface structure.