The challenge is widely recognized: light is highly responsive to obstacles of any size. Consider the distortion we experience when looking through a frosted window or when our glasses become foggy. This analogous effect occurs when a beam of light, bearing data streams in optical wireless systems, encounters obstacles. Although the information remains present, it becomes thoroughly distorted and exceedingly challenging to recover.
The outcomes of this study manifest in compact silicon chips designed as intelligent transceivers. Operating in pairs, these chips possess the capability to autonomously and dynamically “compute” the optimal configuration for a light beam to navigate through diverse environments with maximal efficiency. Beyond this, the devices can generate multiple overlapping beams, each with its distinctive shape, and steer them without mutual interference. This innovative capability substantially enhances transmission capacity, aligning with the demands of upcoming wireless systems.
Francesco Morichetti, Head of the Photonic Devices Lab at Politecnico di Milano, describes the chips developed in the research as mathematical processors that rapidly and efficiently perform calculations using light, with minimal energy consumption. The generation of optical beams involves basic algebraic operations—essentially sums and multiplications—directly applied to the light signals. These signals are then transmitted through micro-antennas seamlessly integrated onto the chips. This technology presents several advantages, including straightforward processing, high energy efficiency, and an expansive bandwidth that surpasses 5000 GHz.
Andrea Melloni, Director of Polifab, the micro and nanotechnology center at Politecnico di Milano, underscores the current prevalence of digital information, noting that despite being digital, images, sounds, and all data inherently possess analog characteristics. While digitization facilitates intricate processing, the escalating volume of data renders these operations increasingly unsustainable in terms of energy and computation. Melloni highlights the growing interest in reverting to analog technologies, specifically through dedicated circuits known as analog co-processors. These co-processors are envisioned to play a crucial role as facilitators for the future 5G and 6G wireless interconnection systems. The developed chips align with this trend, operating analogously to support these advanced wireless technologies.
Marc Sorel, Professor of Electronics at the TeCIP Institute (Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, and Photonics Institute) of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, emphasizes the critical role of analog computing through optical processors in various applications. These include serving as mathematical accelerators for neuromorphic systems, contributing to high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence, supporting quantum computers and cryptography, enhancing advanced localization, positioning, and sensor systems, and, more broadly, being instrumental in systems demanding the rapid processing of substantial volumes of data. This highlights the versatility and significance of analog computing using optical processors across a spectrum of technological domains.
Resources
- ONLINE NEWS Polytechnic University of Milan. (2023, November 29). Photonic chips can calculate optimal shape of light for next-gen wireless systems. Phys.org. [Phys.org]
- JOURNAL SeyedinNavadeh, S., Milanizadeh, M., Zanetto, F., Ferrari, G., Sampietro, M., Sorel, M., Miller, D. a. B., Melloni, A., & Morichetti, F. (2023). Determining the optimal communication channels of arbitrary optical systems using integrated photonic processors. Nature Photonics. [Nature Photonics]
Cite this page:
APA 7: TWs Editor. (2023, November 29). Photonic Chips: How They Can Optimize Light Shape for Wireless? PerEXP Teamworks. [News Link]
