London, England. Scientists have developed an optical system on a microchip the size of a grain of rice, a breakthrough that could play an important role in future high-speed, high-capacity 6G communication technology. The system can generate multiple precisely spaced frequencies simultaneously, which can be converted into millimetre-wave signals.
An international team of scientists, led by researchers at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, carried out the research. The findings have been published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications.
Scientists have described the technology as creating a “rainbow” on a chip. It produces multiple optical frequencies at the same time. However, instead of being continuously mixed, these frequencies are arranged at fixed and equal intervals, similar to the teeth of a comb. This is why the technology is known as a microcomb.
The researchers connected a microresonator to a large loop of optical fibre, allowing laser light to continuously circulate between the two. This helped stabilise the microcomb and enabled the simultaneous generation of multiple precise millimetre-wave frequencies.
One of the biggest potential applications of this technology is in wireless communications. In the future, different frequencies could be used as separate communication channels. This could increase the amount of data transmitted at the same time and help make 6G networks faster and more capable.
However, the technology is still at the laboratory stage. The complete system is currently tabletop-sized. Scientists are now working to reduce its size and energy consumption. In the future, the technology could also be used in satellites, radar systems, astronomical instruments and scientific equipment requiring highly precise measurements.
