Monday, March 14, 2011

Up to 109 Tbps on a fiber optic

Japanese researchers have managed to exceed the limit of 100 Tb / s optical fiber by changing the modulator. They have crossed a limit that was thought physically unbreakable. In 2001, scientists have reached 100 Tbps on a fiber optic and decreed that it was the physical limit on this support. The diameter of a fiber is only 9 m, but the energy density is extremely important.

The signal transmitted in the form of photons is damaged by high temperatures and high power at the fiber core. The researchers therefore concluded that these limitations prevented transmission over 100 Tb / s. Japanese scholars of the National Institute of Information Technology and communication have nonetheless managed to achieve 109 Tb / s and says it will be possible to exceed the old limit of more than 1000 times.

To achieve their ends, they use roughly a multicore system within a single fiber. Instead of having a photonic link, a fiber going to carry several. This technique is not new, but for the first time, researchers have managed to prevent the cores interfere with each other through an ultrafast modulator bringing the signal on 16.8 kilometers on seven different cores.

The great advantage is that it is possible to use this technology without having to replace the cable. It remains to be seen whether researchers will leave this modulator in their laboratory.

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