Plasma-Coupled Graphene Antennas With Surface Plasmon Polariton Modes for Performance Optimization in Terahertz Wireless Body Area Networks

This article investigates the role of plasma support electromagnetic (EM) interactions and surface plasmon polariton (SPP) in enhancing the performance of terahertz (THz) wireless body area networks (WBANs) for consumer health applications. A bending log-periodic graphene-based antenna is proposed, comprising multiple log-periodic graphene elements excited through a silver nanostrip feedline to support plasmonic wave confinement. The antenna demonstrates dual-band operation at 5.95 and 6.31 THz, where the excitation of SPP modes leads to strong field localization and reduced propagation losses. The antenna exhibits impressive return loss values of −47.71 and −24.27 dB at 5.95 and 6.31 THz, respectively, ensuring minimal signal reflection. The front-to-back ratio (FBR) is 11.12, with an efficiency of 81% and 50.7% the antenna achieves a directivity of 10.14 dBi. It is ensuring reliable performance in plasma-mediated THz propagation. Bending analysis validates structural robustness under realistic WBAN conditions, while a three-layered human body model is employed to assess the specific absorption rate (SAR), confirming low exposure levels suitable for long-term wearable and implantable applications. Further, computer simulation technology (CST), HSS, and ADS results have been verified and validated using mathematical modeling. The integration of plasma-driven SPP mechanisms with graphene antenna technology highlights a pathway toward high-performance THz WBANs, enabling safe and continuous health monitoring through smart textiles and advanced biomedical platforms.