Researchers develop chip-size ‘rainbow’ light source to boost future 6G speeds
Scientists at Loughborough University have built a rice-grain-sized chip that emits a stable optical “rainbow,” enabling multiple millimeter-wave channels for faster 6G communications and ultra-precise timing.
Physicists from Loughborough University, together with international collaborators, have demonstrated a microcomb on a chip the size of a grain of rice that generates a precisely spaced “rainbow” of light frequencies. By linking the chip’s microresonator to a larger optical fiber loop, the system sustains stable optical states that can be transformed into multiple millimeter-wave frequencies at once, offering several parallel channels for data transmission.
This approach addresses a key hurdle in producing the stability required for advanced millimeter-wave communications, which are central to future 6G networks. The researchers also showed that individual frequency amplitudes can be adjusted without losing overall precision, a feature useful for radar, spectroscopy and quantum-grade timing. The prototype, currently a tabletop setup, could be shrunk to fit inside a shoebox and may be suitable for satellite use. Ongoing work with the National Physical Laboratory and the UK Hub for Quantum Enabled Position, Navigation and Timing aims to assess the comb’s ultimate timing accuracy for navigation and positioning systems.
Why it matters
The technology could dramatically increase 6G data capacity and enable ultra-precise timing for quantum and navigation applications.
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