There are discoveries that change the world silently, without fanfare or bombastic announcements. The laser amplifier developed by researchers at Chalmers University could be one of them. On a chip of a few square centimeters, these Swedish scientists have managed to condense a power of data transmission which is ten times faster than current fiber optic systems. The trick is spiral waveguides etched into silicon nitride, which direct the laser light with a precision never before seen in optical communications.
A quantum leap in optical communications and data transmission in general
Peter Andresson, professor of photonics at Chalmers University, did not mince words in describing the significance of the discovery published on NatureCurrent systems operate with a bandwidth of about 30 nanometers, while their amplifier reaches 300 nanometers: a difference that completely transforms the possibilities of data transmission.
The secret to this technology lies in the combination of advanced materials and innovative geometries. The chip uses silicon nitride, a high-temperature ceramic material, integrated with spiral waveguides that allow for meter-long optical paths inside tiny devices. These microscopic spirals direct the laser beams, eliminating signal anomalies and maximizing the efficiency of the data transmission.
The speed of light remains constant, but the increased bandwidth allows ten times more information to be transmitted in the same amount of time. A fundamental technical distinction that makes the difference between the internet of today and that of tomorrow.
From theory to practice
The research didn’t come out of nowhere. Andrekson and his team have been working on this technology for over a decade. The first experiments date back to 2011, but only in the last four years have researchers focused on space applications.
The amplifier operates in a wavelength range between 1.400 and 1.700 nanometers, within the shortwave infrared spectrum. As confirmed by the official communication from Chalmers University, this feature makes it perfect not only for terrestrial communications, but also for applications where weak signals have to travel across enormous distances.
Tests demonstrated astonishing performance: the amplifier maintains exceptional signal quality even when amplifying extremely weak signals, a crucial feature for space communications where every photon counts.
The apps that will change our future
The practical implications of this discovery go far beyond simply improving Internet speeds. As highlighted in previous research on advanced optical systems, the integration of innovative photonic technologies is transforming completely different sectors.
In the medical field, the wide bandwidth would allow for more precise analysis and imaging of tissues and organs, facilitating early diagnosis of diseases. The ability to work also with visible and infrared wavelengths, with small design modifications, opens up application scenarios in laser surgery, spectroscopy and advanced microscopy.
For space communications, the device could finally overcome the bottleneck that limits the data transmission from space probes. Currently, data from Mars arrives at speeds of about 30 kilobits per second versus the average 60 megabits of Swedish broadband. ScienceDaily highlights that with this technology we could transmit high-resolution images from nearby planets in reasonable times.
The road to commercialization
The researchers integrated multiple amplifiers onto the same chip, demonstrating that the technology is easily scalable. The amplifier was manufactured using processes compatible with CMOS semiconductors, meaning it can be made in the same factories that produce chips for computers and smartphones.
This industrial compatibility represents a huge competitive advantage over other experimental technologies that require completely new manufacturing processes. Traditional optical amplifiers, based on fibers containing special chemical elements such as erbium or on semiconductors, in fact have significant limitations in terms of miniaturization and integration.
Miniaturization and on-chip integration make these laser systems more accessible and affordable than lab-scale alternatives, paving the way for mass production that could revolutionize the optical communications market.
Laser data transmission, towards a hyper-connected world
The Chalmers University discovery comes at a crucial time. Nokia Bell Labs predicts data traffic will double by 2030, driven by artificial intelligence, streaming services, and the proliferation of smart devices.
Andrexson has a clear vision for the future: “This technology offers a scalable solution for lasers that can operate at various wavelengths, being more convenient, compact and energy efficient”. A single laser system based on this amplifier could be used in multiple fields, from holography to materials characterization, from data transmission to surgical operations.
The world of optical communications will never be the same again. What seemed like science fiction yesterday is now taking shape in Swedish university laboratories. And perhaps, very soon, even our way of connecting with the universe will never be the same again.
