The University of Bristol and NICT successfully demonstrated a multicore fibre-based network, utilizing Space Division Multiplexing (SDM) and Software Defined Network (SDN) control. This breakthrough enables the efficient handling of emerging Internet applications such as global cloud computing.
Researchers from Garching and Braunschweig transport frequencies with high precision over almost 2000 km to accurately determine the geoid of the Earth. The new technology allows for a height difference of 4 mm between clocks to be resolved within 100 seconds.
A recent study tested fiber-optic sensors on a 36-km stretch of high-speed commuter railroad lines in Hong Kong, detecting over 10 million measurements and identifying anomalies such as excessive vibrations and mechanical defects. The system saves the rail company around $250,000 annually in maintenance costs.
The discovery enables rapid localization and measurement of cells within living environments at the nanoscale, such as changes to a single cell in response to chemical signals. The ultra-sensitive nanoparticles, or SuperDots, can detect individual particles with thousand times more sensitivity than existing materials.
Researchers from UNIGE have successfully entangled two optic fibers populated by 500 photons, surviving on a macroscopic level. The phenomenon demonstrates that larger elements can retain their quantum properties, despite interactions with the surrounding environment.
Researchers have devised a new fiber optic technology that could ease Internet congestion and enable on-demand video streaming. The technology uses donut-shaped laser light beams called optical vortices to boost Internet bandwidth, promising terabit-per-second capacity transmission links.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a low-cost fiber-optic pen that tracks brain activity in real-time while children with learning disabilities read and write. The device, which costs less than $100, allows scientists to study the neural connections involved in writing and reading.
Purdue researchers achieve significant improvement in temporal cloaking, enabling 46% of data transmission to be encrypted. This technology could enhance telecommunications security and find applications in military, homeland security, or law enforcement.
A new splicing technique offers an automated way to align and connect multicore optical fibers with minimal signal quality loss. This method enables the production line deployment of these high-capacity fibers, which can carry up to 10 terabits per second.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a micro-endoscope that can resolve objects four times better than previous devices, enabling new methods in diverse fields. The so-called micro-endoscope is a significant step forward in high-resolution bio-imaging with potential applications in research and clinical practice.
Engineers at AT&T Labs have devised a new technique to enable 400 Gb/s signals to be transmitted over ultra-long distances using current-generation systems. The team successfully transmitted 400 Gb/s signals over a record-breaking 12,000 km distance.
Researchers at IBM have developed a prototype optical link that shatters the previous power efficiency record by half, paving the way for faster supercomputers. The link operates at 25 gigabits per second using just 24 milliwatts of total wall-plug power.
Researchers develop a new dynamic network management system that can redirect traffic-congesting connections in real-time, improving network efficiency. The system combines OpenFlow and PCE technology to provide efficient solution for operating transport networks.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a novel chip-scale instrument using carbon nanotubes to measure laser power with high accuracy. The mini-radiometer achieves this by absorbing light over a broad range of wavelengths and converting it to heat, allowing for precise measurements.
A team of researchers from Australia and France has developed a novel manufacturing technique to create uniform silica wires through self-assembly. The technique enables the combination of silica with any material, paving the way for new applications in sensing, photovoltaics, optical switches, and photon sources.
Researchers developed a new nanomechanical dual-core optical fiber that can enhance data processing and serve as sensors by applying mechanical pressure. The fibers' internal core structure is designed to be dynamic, allowing for precise motion control and harnessing the fundamental properties of light.
The Optics Express Special Issue on ECOC 2012 features in-depth versions of 134 papers from the conference, covering topics such as multicore components and hybrid optoelectronic devices. The issue includes submissions from 37% of authors of the 350+ papers presented at the conference.
Researchers at Penn State University have developed a new type of optical fiber with integrated solar-cell capabilities that can be scaled to long lengths and woven into flexible fabrics. This technology has the potential to revolutionize portable electronics, offering lightweight, foldable, and wearable power sources.
Researchers have created a fiber-optic equivalent of the world's smallest wrench, enabling precise control over microscopic particles like living cells and DNA. This new technique uses flexible optical fibers to twist and turn particles in any direction, promising advancements in biological research, healthcare, and more.
Montserrat Fernández-Vallejo has developed the longest fibre-optic sensor network measuring 250 km with a multiplexing capability, enabling remote monitoring of large infrastructures. The network addresses three main challenges: multiplexing sensors, ensuring continued service in case of faults, and allowing remote monitoring.
A new 'smart' surgical tool combines advanced technology with human hand precision to minimize surgical accidents. The device uses an optical fiber sensor to compensate for hand tremors, allowing for accurate and precise movements during delicate procedures.
Montserrat Fernández-Vallejo has developed the longest fibre-optic sensor network measuring 250 km with a multiplexing capability, enabling remote monitoring of large infrastructures. This technology allows for efficient data transmission and analysis without power sources, critical state observation, and preventive maintenance.
Researchers at Clemson University have developed optical fibers using highly purified silica and sapphire, pushing the limits of current fiber technology. The goal is to create stronger and more durable fiber material for telecommunications and high-energy applications.
Researchers have developed new materials that improve X-ray machines' light-capturing efficiency, reducing patient radiation doses and enhancing image resolution. The nanostructures are modeled after the compound eyes of moths, which exhibit anti-reflective properties.
Rural residents may face a digital divide due to the increasing adoption of technology that replaces copper lines with faster, cheaper, and more convenient alternatives. While cellular phones offer an affordable option, most cell phone companies charge per minute, and service can be unreliable.
A team of researchers has demonstrated an optical frequency transfer with high stability through a standard telecommunication optical fiber network. This achievement enables the ability to compare optical clocks located far apart and transmit their stability to distant laboratories, benefiting fundamental research in physics and industry.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have discovered that graphene is an excellent active media for optical modulators, promising faster data transmission and computing. The graphene-based modulators can perform at speeds up to 10 times faster than current technology, enabling applications such as high-definition streaming on smartphones.
Japanese researchers have developed a spectrally efficient, scalable elastic optical transport network architecture called SLICE to address growing IP traffic demands. The technology enables adaptive spectrum allocation, providing significant savings of network resources and increased capacity.
A German research team has created a record-speed wireless data bridge that transmits digital information up to 20 billion bits per second, surpassing current state-of-the-art systems. The bridge operates at 200 GHz and remains operational under adverse atmospheric conditions.
Photonic interconnects promise to revolutionize computer architecture with ultra-high communication bandwidths and extreme energy efficiency. HP Labs is studying the shift to light-based interconnects to build next-generation IT solutions.
Researchers created an integrated electronic component directly into optical fibers, bypassing the need to integrate fiber-optics onto a chip. This breakthrough enables high-speed optoelectronic function and has potential applications in telecommunications and hybrid technologies.
Researchers at Penn State University have developed crystalline materials that allow optical fibers to have integrated, high-speed electronic functions. The breakthrough enables faster and more efficient technologies in telecommunications, laser technology, and remote-sensing devices.
The Galileo program seeks to bridge the precision fiber optic controls and long-baseline astronomical interferometry technical communities to enable faster imaging of objects in geosynchronous orbit. By harnessing the power of flexible fiber optics, researchers aim to create a new means of better, faster imaging of objects in GEO.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new type of optical device that can process information in one direction, eliminating the need for translation and increasing bandwidth. This innovation has the potential to lead to faster and more powerful supercomputers by connecting multiple processors together.
Researchers have demonstrated a prototype device capable of absolute measurements of optical power delivered through an optical fiber, outperforming existing devices with improved temperature control and speed. The new radiometer can measure power levels as low as 10 nanowatts with high accuracy, paving the way for ultraprecise calibra...
Researchers have developed a precise method to create microresonators in optical fibers, enabling the creation of 'Whispering Gallery' structures that can store tiny packets of light. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize computing with faster calculations and more efficient memory storage.
A new chemical technique has been developed to deposit a non-crystalline form of silicon into ultra-thin pores of optical fibers. This allows for the creation of more-efficient and flexible optical fibers with hydrogenated amorphous silicon, ideal for applications such as solar cells and telecommunications.
A Purdue University and NIST team developed a microring resonator that converts continuous laser light into numerous ultrashort pulses, enabling applications in advanced sensors, communications systems, and laboratory instruments. The device uses nonlinear interaction to generate frequencies with equal spacing.
Physicists at City College of New York develop a new way to map spiraling light, which can harness untapped data capacity in optical fibers. The Higher Order Poincaré Sphere model reduces complex light patterns to single equations, enabling novel physics and engineering efforts.
The photonics center will develop novel sensing technologies for remote oil storage measurement, gasifier refractory wall monitoring, and on-line dissolved gas detection in transformers. This will improve the efficient operation of advanced power systems and reduce costs associated with transformer failures.
Researchers explore ways to boost fiber optic communication capacity to meet growing internet traffic demands, including space-division multiplexing and mode-division multiplexing. Studies aim to increase fiber capacity by up to seven-fold, enabling exponential growth in optical communication systems.
Scientists at the University of Strathclyde devise a new system to compare whisky samples, distinguishing between authentic and counterfeit brands with high accuracy. The method uses mid-infrared spectrometry and has been successfully tested in blind tests.
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a model that can find optimal fiber optic network connections significantly faster and more efficiently. The model breaks down the complex problem into smaller units, allowing for faster design and re-design cycles.
Researchers at TE SubCom have demonstrated a way to boost undersea cable capacity without increasing optical bandwidth. The breakthrough allows for high spectral efficiency channels to be transmitted over longer distances, up to 18,000 kilometers, surpassing previous records.
Researchers have developed a new class of optical fibers using zinc selenide, enabling more efficient light manipulation and transmission in the infrared spectrum. This breakthrough has potential applications in medical lasers, countermeasure lasers, and environmental monitoring.
Scientists have demystified glasses by analyzing the behavior of a metallic alloy as it cools down. The findings suggest that glassy states can be unfrozen and refrozen by changing temperature, contradicting previous theories on strong and fragile liquids.
A new $5.6 million initiative aims to create a system that controls prosthetic limbs naturally by sensing and stimulating nerve activity. The Vanderbilt team, in collaboration with SMU researchers, is developing a neurophotonics-based system that uses laser beams to stimulate sensory nerves and provide feedback to the brain.
CSIRO's Ngara technology offers wireless broadband access to rural areas, with a six-user system capable of uploading data at 12 Mbps. The technology achieves high spectral efficiency, enabling multiple users to upload simultaneously without reducing individual data transfer rates.
The Neurophotonics Research Center aims to develop a two-way fiber optic communication link between prosthetic limbs and peripheral nerves, enabling realistic movement and 'feeling' sensations. Successful completion will allow for revolutionary freedom of movement and agility for amputees.
Researchers have developed a new device that can eliminate phase noise and cross talk in optical communication networks, enabling improved data transmission. The device uses phase sensitive amplification and regeneration to restore signal quality, allowing for increased network capacity and reduced energy consumption.
Physicists at NIST have demonstrated an ion trap with a built-in optical fiber, enabling the measurement of quantum information stored in ions. The device simplifies quantum computer design and paves the way for swapping information between matter and light in future quantum networks.
A team from Dalian Polytechnic University and City University of Hong Kong developed an experimental glass with heavy metals, which amplifies light signals at a wavelength of 1185 nanometers. The results indicate the potential for this material in both fiber optic networks and lasers.
A new concept of optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) based on a chaotic light correlation method has been developed, achieving distance-independent resolutions of up to 25 km. This technique uses broadband chaotic light generated from a laser diode to improve the accuracy of fiber fault location.
Dr. Koby Scheuer's plastic-based technology uses nano-sized grooves to filter noise from information in optical devices, making them smaller, more flexible, and powerful.
The NIST team has developed a single photon detector that can count individual photons with 99 percent efficiency. This breakthrough technology improves the accuracy of electronic communication and quantum computing, while also enabling the detection of missing photons in long-distance data transmission to prevent information theft.
Dr. Jacob Scheuer's new invention transmits binary lock-and-key information in light pulses, ensuring secure communication without eavesdropping. The system uses a special laser to send different signals that can be distinguished by the sender and receiver but appear identical to an attacker.
The conference will showcase cutting-edge research in optical communication, including an express lane for large data transfers and innovations in wireless connectivity. Scientists will also explore new technologies for more efficient data routing and faster internet speeds.
Emerging optical technologies will enable warehouse-scale computing data centers, allowing users to access their data from anywhere and at any time. Google's Cedric Lam highlights the importance of low-cost, high-bandwidth, and high-density optical fiber interconnects in powering cloud computing.
Researchers from Germany have developed a way to encode wireless broadband signals using desk lamps, exploiting synergy between illumination and information. The system uses visible-frequency wireless with all the bandwidth one could want, achieving record speeds of up to 230 Mbit/s with commercial LEDs.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a new type of three-dimensional photovoltaic system using zinc oxide nanostructures grown on optical fibers. The approach allows PV systems to be hidden from view, providing an alternative to traditional rooftop installations.