Advances in 5G Physics, Materials, and Devices

With the introduction of 5G technology to the marketplace, new applications in automation, artificial intelligence, and healthcare are now possible, including smart building spaces with integrated sensors and autonomous vehicles that depend on high-speed communications for real-time feedback. In contrast to earlier generations, 5G requires fundamentally different hardware and even underlying design principles. Examples include technology to enable real-time beamforming to overcome path loss and maintain signal integrity. Carriers are testing 5G mmWave handsets and small-cell base stations internationally. These tests demonstrate the limitations of many current implementations and the need for new materials, physics, measurement science, devices, and technology. The scope of this special issue will address the questions “what is 5G?”, “what are the challenges?, “how can materials, physics, and measurements help?”, and “what new technologies and applications are on the horizon?".

Guest Editors: Michael Lanagan, Nathan D. Orloff, and Rick Ubic