New speed record for data transmission
The modulator (in gold) transmits the information from an electrical wave to an optical wave.
ETH researchers have developed a new type of component for ultra-fast data transmission. Its potential applications range from 6G mobile communications to medicine and special measurement technologies.
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Advancements in mobile technology have been remarkable, with the advent of 4G and, more recently, 5G, enabling seamless and swift internet access. However, researchers and companies around the world are already working intensively on the sixth generation (6G) of mobile technology.
Ultra-fast conversion of electrical signals into optical signals
One challenge remains at a critical interface: electrical signals must first be converted into optical signals before fibre-optic transmission. This process is facilitated by modulators, which are small components that convert electrical impulses into optical signals. This is a vital component in any field that demands the efficient transfer of large data sets, including telecommunications, medical technology and industrial measurement technology.
A research team from the Institute of Electromagnetic Fields (IEF) at ETH Zurich has succeeded in developing a new type of modulator that can convert electrical signals with a frequency of over 1 terahertz (THz) into optical signals. This is a world first: previous modulators were only able to convert frequencies up to 200 gigahertz, i.e. frequencies five times lower.
Technology for the next generation of mobile communications
According to the press release, this innovation is especially important for the next mobile communications standard, 6G, which is expected to operate in the THz range. The fibre-optic connections between the base stations are the backbone of this network. Until now, it was hard to send THz signals on fibre optics and expensive equipment was needed. The new modulator makes this process much easier, uses less energy and is more accurate.
The successful demonstration of bandwidths beyond 1 THz marks a significant milestone in the field of photonics. It paves the way for new avenues in research and development, and we are excited about the potential applications that this breakthrough will enable
Versatile applications – from data centres to medicine
This technology could be used for much more than just telecommunications. In high-performance data centres, for example, data could be sent even faster in future via fibre optic cables. THz signals are already being used in medical diagnostics, spectroscopic materials analysis, airport scanners and radar technology. The new modulator could make these technologies more efficient and create new use cases.
Gold at the centre
The underlying technology utilises the interaction of light with free electrons in gold, one of the components of the tiny nanostructure. The spin-off Polariton Technologies was established to commercialise the technology developed at ETH Zurich. This breakthrough has the potential to usher in a new era of data transmission that is fast, efficient and universally applicable.