Researchers from the Physics Department of the University of Chile and the MIRO Institute developed devices that allow an optical signal to be transformed into multiple equal signals in order to distribute them to different users. The work represents an advance compared to the current systems used by Internet operators, which are less efficient in the use of space and energy in each process of sending information.
Communications UdeChile.- A team led by the academic from the Physics Department of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences of the University of Chile, Rodrigo Vicenciomanaged to produce optical devices that can perform controlled operations in a wide range of wavelengths (colors), thus increasing the amount of information that can be transmitted over the internet or other data network.
The study, titled “Ultra-low-loss broadband multiport optical splitter» (Ultra-Low Loss Broadband Multi-Port Optical Splitter), was published by the scientific journal Optics Expressand also participated in it, the researcher Vildoso Pigeonfrom the Millennium Institute for Research in Optics MIRO, and jovana petrovicfrom the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences in Serbia.
New technology
“These devices, known as splitters, they can be used both in the distribution of optical signals and in photonic chips for quantum computingmultiplying optical signals”, explains Professor Vicencio.
“We were able to transform an optical signal into multiple equal signals (N equal signals), in order to distribute them to different users,” adds the academic from the University of Chile. This would be an advance compared to the current systems used by Internet operators, which are inefficient in the use of space and energy in each process of sending information.something that could help solve these devices.
To design these tools, computational analyzes were carried out at first, to then move on to the manufacturing process, which used a femtosecond laser and motion stations with nanometer precision (one millionth of a millimeter); while the characterization was performed with a supercontinuous laser and a standard CCD camera.
The next step, the scientists propose, will consist of the implementation of devices with a greater number of outputs (N=10), in addition to seeking to increase the bandwidth of optical communications.
