Swiss scientists have created a novel modulator capable of converting electrical signals into optical ones at record terahertz speeds.
Swiss scientists have achieved a massive breakthrough after successfully transmitting data at over a terahertz frequency for the first time using a brand-new plasmonic modulator.The device, which uses special light waves called surface plasmon polaritons to control and change optical signals, enables significantly faster and more efficient data transmission by directly converting electrical signals into optical ones at a speed of more than a trillion oscillations per second.
In contrast, earlier modulators were limited to converting frequencies of just 100 to 200 gigahertz, which is five to 10 times lower than what has now been made possible. The research team from ETH Zurich, one of the world’s leading universities in science and technology, believes the achievement marks a significant leap in high-speed data transfer.Paving the way for 6GJürg Leuthold, PhD, professor of photonics and communications at ETH Zurich and lead author of the study, explains that the device is a tiny nanostructure made up of various materials, including gold, which makes use of the interaction between light and free electrons within the gold. Leuthold states that such modulators can be used wherever massive amounts of data need to be transmitted, serving as a crucial link between electrical signals and optical data transfer.“Data is always initially present in electrical form and nowadays, its transmission always involves optical fibers at some point,” the professor added.Meanwhile, the next wave of mobile communications is set to operate in the terahertz range, enabling high-speed, low-latency communication that is multiple times faster than fifth-generation networks. Its foundation – the cables connecting base stations – relies on optical fiber technology to support this unprecedented data transmission speed. “Our modulator allows radio signals and other electrical signals to be converted into optical signals directly and therefore efficiently,” Yannik Horst, PhD, who developed the component as part of his doctoral research, reveals.Future applicationsWhile terahertz signals can already be transferred onto optical fiber, the process remains complex, requiring multiple costly components. According to the researchers, the new modulators streamline this by converting signals directly, cutting energy consumption, and improving measurement accuracy. Moreover, while existing systems rely on different components for various frequency ranges, the new modulator operates seamlessly across frequencies from 10 megahertz to 1.14 terahertz.“We cover the entire frequency range with a single component,” Horst concludes in a press release. “It’s therefore extremely versatile in terms of applications.”The team suggests that the technology could also be applied to optical fiber data transmission within and between high-performance computing centers. In addition, the components show great potential for advanced measurement technology, including medical imaging, spectroscopic material analysis, airport baggage scanners, and radar systems, some of which already operate in the terahertz range today.Now working to bring the terahertz modulator to market, the team aims to make it widely available for future applications in data transmission and measurement technology.The study has been published in the journal Optica.
Energy &Amp Environment Fiber Innovation Optics Physics Radio Frequency Research Technology Terahertz
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