Development of a Bespoke Opensource Programme for GHz and THz Coaxial Delay Line Phase Shifters Design Utilizing Liquid Crystal for 5.5G-6G Applications and Education Purposes

The prediction and mitigation of higher-order modes (HoM) are critical considerations in the design of gigahertz (GHz) and terahertz (THz) coaxial delay line phase shifters, particularly for next-generation wireless communication and sensing applications. The emergence of liquid crystal (LC)-based phase shifters presents novel opportunities for tunable and low-loss performance; however, the risk of HoM excitation poses a significant challenge to their practical implementation. To address this issue, we introduce HoM-Alert Liquid Crystal Phase Shifter Designer (HoM-Alert-LC-PSD, Version 1.0)-a bespoke open-source software tool designed to facilitate the automated or semi-automated detection and avoidance of HoM in LC-based coaxial phase shifter designs. Building upon our previously established physical models, this software integrates analytical and numerical techniques to provide users with predictive insights into HoM risks, thereby enhancing design reliability and efficiency. By transitioning from theoretical advancements in LC-coaxial phase shifting to an accessible and practical software implementation, this work fosters a deeper integration between design optimization and simulation. Furthermore, the open-source nature of HoM-Alert-LC-PSD ensures broad accessibility for both research and educational applications, accelerating innovation in 5.5G-6G technologies. This initiative marks a step toward bridging the gaps between academic research, higher education, and practical engineering, facilitating a transition from conceptual modelling to real-world deployment in both industry and academia.