THz/RF Multi-Hop Routing Throughput: Performance, Optimization, and Application

Terahertz (THz) communication offers a promising solution for high-throughput wireless systems. However, the severe path loss of THz signals raises concerns about its effectiveness compared to radio frequency (RF) communication. In this article, we establish the first stochastic geometry (SG)-based analytical framework for routing in THz systems. We develop a stepwise optimization approach to maximize throughput, including power allocation, relay selection, and number of hops design. Analytical expressions for throughput and coverage probability are derived under the SG framework, enabling low complexity and scalable performance evaluation. Numerical results show that the proposed stepwise-optimal routing strategies not only outperform existing SG-based methods but also approach the ideal upper bound. Moreover, we compare the throughput and coverage performance of THz and RF routing and demonstrate the applications of the proposed analytical framework and routing strategies in system parameter design and unmanned aerial vehicle networks.