TeraSim: An ns-3 extension to simulate Terahertz-band communication networks

In the quest of higher wireless data-rates, Terahertz (THz)-band (0.1-10 THz) communication is envisioned as a key wireless technology of the next decade. In parallel to the development of THz transceivers and antennas, simulation tools are needed to expedite the development of communication and networking protocols tailored to this novel networking paradigm, at a fraction of the cost. The few simulation platforms developed to date for THz communication networks do not capture the peculiarities of the THz channel or the capabilities of THz devices. In this paper, TeraSim, i.e., an open source network simulation platform for THz communication networks is presented. TeraSim is built as an extension for ns-3, which is one of the most widely used teaching and education network simulation software. The simulator has been developed considering two major types of application scenarios, namely, nanoscale communication networks (average transmission range usually below one meter) and macroscale communication networks (distances larger than one meter). The simulator consists of a common channel module, separate physical and link layers for each scenario, and two assisting modules, namely, THz antenna module and energy harvesting module, originally designed for the macroscale and nanoscale scenario, respectively. The structure, relations and content of each module are presented in detail. Extensive simulation and test results are provided to validate the functionalities of the implemented modules. TeraSim is expected to enable the networking community to test THz networking protocols without having to delve into the channel and physical layers.