We report on the successful implementation of a photonic-based beam steering approach for point-to-multipoint terahertz (THz) communications. The frequency-agile radiation properties of a THz leaky-wave antenna connected to a photodiode are utilized in the remote transmitter for generating multiple individually steerable THz beams. The approach benefits from the ultra-wide frequency tunability of optical heterodyne systems for frequency-agile THz beam steering. Moreover, the approach allows to exploit high performance and mature optical modulation techniques for generating THz beams with a high data capacity. In the THz receiver, a carrier frequency insensitive envelope THz detector based upon a single Schottky-barrier diode is used. In detail, THz communications in the 300 GHz band (WR3.4) with a maximum steering angle up to 90° is reported. Experimentally, for single steerable THz beam operation, a record high data rate of 35 Gbit/s at a wireless distance of 30 cm is achieved using two-level pulse amplitude modulation. Also, longer wireless distances up to 110 cm with 5 Gbit/s are demonstrated. Furthermore, point-to-multipoint THz communications is reported using two individually steerable THz beams carrying 10 Gbit/s and 5 Gbit/s over 70 cm and 50 cm, respectively.

The rapidly growing demand for data storage and processing, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and other data-intensive applications, is posing a serious challenge for current computing devices based on the von Neumann architecture. For every calculation, data sets need to be shuffled sequentially between the processor, and multiple memory and storage units through bandwidth-limited and energy-inefficient interconnects, typically causing 40% power wastage. Phase-change materials (PCMs) show great promise to break this bottleneck by enabling nonvolatile memory devices that can optimize the complex memory hierarchy, and neuro-inspired computing devices that can unify computing with storage in memory cells. The articles in this issue of MRS Bulletin highlight recent breakthroughs in the fundamental materials science, as well as electronic and photonic implementations of these novel devices based on PCMs.

Semiconductor nanowires, by definition, typically have nanoscale cross-sectional dimensions, with lengths spanning from hundreds of nanometers to millimeters. These subwavelength structures represent a new class of semiconductor materials for investigating light generation, propagation, detection, amplification, and modulation. After more than a decade of research, nanowires can now be synthesized and assembled with specific compositions, heterojunctions, and architectures. This has led to a host of nanowire photonic and electronic devices, including photodetectors, chemical and gas sensors, waveguides, LEDs, microcavity lasers, and nonlinear optical converters. Nanowires also represent an important class of nanostructure building blocks for photovoltaics as well as direct solar-to-fuel conversion because of their high surface area, tunable bandgap, and efficient charge transport and collection. This article gives a brief history of nanowire research for the past two decades and highlights several recent examples in our lab using semiconductor nanowires and their heterostructures for the purpose of solar energy harvesting and waste heat recovery.

The following article is an edited transcript based on the MRS Medalist presentation given by Charles M. Lieber of Harvard University on December 4, 2002, at the Materials Research Society Fall Meeting in Boston. Lieber received the Medal “for controlled synthesis of nanowire and nanotube materials.” This presentation begins with an introduction to the bottom-up paradigm of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The key concepts of this paradigm are explored through studies outlining progress toward meeting the challenge of nanocomputing through the assembly of functional nanowire elements. The richness of the bottom-up paradigm and nanowire building blocks is then illustrated with the development of chemical and biological nanosensors. Finally, the uniqueness of nanowires is exemplified through discussion of the assembly of nanophotonic devices, including the demonstration of multicolor and addressable nanoscale light-emitting diodes, nanowire injection lasers, and assembled arrays of these nanophotonic sources. Challenges and goals for realizing nanotechnologies in the future are discussed in the conclusion.

An overview of key materials for optical communications, including semiconductors, dielectrics, glasses, and organics, is presented in this issue of MRS Bulletin. Materials quality is in all cases crucial for advanced device and system performance. Materials properties and important problems are reviewed, and their impact on the performance of state-of-the-art optical devices is assessed and demonstrated by means of selected examples.