The world is one step closer to 6G communications and ultra fast data transfers following a breakthrough in silicon chip technology led by researchers at the University of Adelaide.
Published in the academic journal Laser and Photonic Reviews on Friday, the researchers used a silicon base to set a record in the use of ultra-wideband technology that could enable significant digital communication speed upgrades.
Research lead and University of Adelaide Professor Withawat Withayachumnankul said the technology will “allow multiple data streams to be transmitted simultaneously over the same frequency band, effectively doubling the data capacity”.
The newly developed polarisation multiplexer is a network device that enables transmission of many digital signals on a single output, with larger frequency bands facilitating more signals at the cost of shorter range. It could enable ultra-fast wireless communication and data transfer.
The University of Adelaide team tested the technology in the 220-330 GHz frequency band. The widest bandwidth used for 5G communications in Australia is the 25.1-26.5 GHz frequency band.
“This large relative bandwidth is a record for any integrated multiplexers found in any frequency range,” Professor Withayachumnankul said.
Testing the technology on a substrateless silicon base also opens up future upgrades to communication speed with existing chip fabrication technology.
“This innovation not only enhances the efficiency of terahertz communication systems but also paves the way for more robust and reliable high-speed wireless networks,” said former University of Adelaide researcher Dr Weijie Gao.
“As a result, the polarisation multiplexer is a key enabler in realising the full potential of terahertz communications, driving forward advancements in various fields such as high-definition video streaming, augmented reality, and next-generation mobile networks such as 6G.”
Dr Gao now works at Osaka University alongside Professor Masayuki Fujita who said “this innovation is poised to catalyse a surge of interest and research activity in the field”.
“We anticipate that within the next one to two years, researchers will begin to explore new applications and refine the technology.”
The team expects high-speed communications technology to advance significantly over the next three to five years.
Professor Withayachumnankul, who is the founder of the University of Adelaide’s Terahertz Engineering Laboratory, said “within a decade, we foresee widespread adoption and integration of these terahertz technologies across various industries, revolutionising fields such as telecommunications, imaging, radar, and the internet of things”.
Earlier this month, Professor Withayachumnankul was awarded National Measurement Institute’s Barry Inglis Medal for excellence in metrology for his ongoing contribution to the development of terahertz communications.
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