Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology has completed research that it says could let fiber optic networks use new parts of the spectrum. Using tiny chips of semiconductor material known as quantum dots, NICT scientists have optically transmitted data in an unused frequency band about 10THz wide, about the same width as the bands currently used for optical communication. The researchers speculate they could eventually use a band about 70THz wide, opening up large amounts of spectrum for faster communication.
This experiment was achieved by using a new method of growing quantum dots. Currently, most quantum dots are grown directly on a hospitable surface, a process that sometimes leads to defective "giant dots" (on a quantum scale - so, very large very tiny structures) that can affect performance. (theverge.com)
Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology has completed research that it says could let fiber optic networks use new parts of the spectrum. Using tiny chips of semiconductor material known as quantum dots, NICT scientists have optically transmitted data in an unused frequency band about 10THz wide, about the same width as the bands currently used for optical communication. The researchers speculate they could eventually use a band about 70THz wide, opening up large amounts of spectrum for faster communication.
This experiment was achieved by using a new method of growing quantum dots. Currently, most quantum dots are grown directly on a hospitable surface, a process that sometimes leads to defective "giant dots" (on a quantum scale - so, very large very tiny structures) that can affect performance. (theverge.com)