Scientists at the University of Illinois have created sugar cube-sized blocks of an electromagnetic material with potential to transform communication networks.
Several countries are building futuristic communication systems using higher frequency electromagnetic waves to transfer more data at faster rates, but they have lacked network components to handle these higher bandwidths. Researcher J. Gary Eden proved his new device can rapidly switch functionality to perform the varied tasks needed to support a network with carrier frequencies of over 100 gigahertz. The miniscule-scale architecture concealed within the sugar cube blocks is described in Applied Physics Reviews, from AIP Publishing.
“This technology is particularly interesting, because it generates multiple channels operating simultaneously at different frequencies. Basically, this allows multiple conversations to occur over the same network, which is the heart of high-speed wireless communications,” explained Eden.
Plasma is critical for swiftly switching between functions and frequencies, but previous plasma-based electromagnetic crystals were much too large to operate at high frequencies. The key lies in creating a structure with spacing between the plasma and metal columns as small as the wavelength of radiation being manipulated.
The wavelength of electromagnetic waves shortens as the frequency and bandwidth increase. To realize crystals of high bandwidth operating at frequencies above 100 GHz, a small-scale design is required.
Eden’s team developed a 3D-printed scaffold, which served as a negative of the desired network. A polymer was poured in and, once set, microcapillaries 0.3 millimeters in diameter were filled with plasma, metal or a dielectric gas. Using this replica-molding technique, it took nearly five years to perfect the dimensions and spacings of the microcapillaries in the woodpile like lattice.
“Assembling the material was extremely demanding,” said Eden, but eventually, he and his team were able to use their material to observe resonance spanning the 100 GHz to 300 GHz frequency region, which Eden noted as “an enormous spectral range over which to operate.”
The group showed that rapid changes in the electromagnetic characteristics of these crystals — such as switching between reflecting or transmitting signals — could be achieved by simply turning on or off a few plasma columns. Such a capability shows the utility of such a dynamic and energy-efficient device for communications.
Eden is keen to further optimize the fabrication and switching efficiencies of this new device but is also excited to delve into other applications. For instance, the crystal could be tuned to respond to the resonances of specific molecules, e.g., atmospheric pollutants, and be used as a highly sensitive detector.
Learn more: Communications Device Offers Huge Bandwidth Potential
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Futuristic communication systems
- Chang'e-6 is just the tip of China's ambitions for the Solar System
China's Chang'e-6 mission is intended to bring back lunar samples but is also a stepping stone to much more ambitious space exploration.
- Listen, Detect, Protect: The Promise of Gunshot Detection Systems
Gun violence remains a pressing concern in many communities worldwide, prompting the need for innovative solutions to enhance public safety. Among the arsenal of tools available to law enforcement and ...
- Enterprise councillor says N.W.T. needs a better wildfire warning system
As the N.W.T. prepares for another potentially devastating wildfire, St. Amour said there needs to be better communication in the event of future evacuations and that there should be multiple avenues ...
- Unified Communications and Collaboration Market: Surging at 12.3% CAGR, Anticipated to Hit US$ 271,306.4 Million by 2033
The global unified communications and collaboration market is expected to reach a total value of approximately US$ 84.8 billion in 2023. Over the next decade, from 2023 to 2033, it is anticipated to ...
- The future of online communication: Secure and censorship-resistant chat on blockchain
The platform promises enhanced security and autonomy for users, positioning them prominently in the development of Web3 and making it a relevant choice for those interested in the future of online ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Futuristic communication systems
[google_news title=”” keyword=”futuristic communication systems” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Dynamic plasma/metal/dielectric crystals
- New study reveals phonon properties of β-MoB₂ single crystal
According to research published in Physical Review Research, a research team led by Prof. Luo Xuan from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered the ...
- Researchers discover spontaneous liquefaction of solid metal–liquid metal interfaces in colloidal binary alloys
The boundary between solid metal and liquid metal can be much less "solid" than we ever suspected. RMIT researchers have discovered that the liquid-solid boundary can fluctuate back and forth, with ...
- Tiny crystals with a big impact on technology innovation
The term crystal in this context does not necessarily refer to a traditional crystalline solid like salt or diamond, but rather to any material with a highly ordered, repeating structure at the ...
- Photorefractive Crystals: Harnessing Light for Dynamic Holography and Optical Computing
Photorefractive crystals are a class of materials that exhibit a change in their refractive index when exposed to light. This phenomenon, known as the photorefractive effect, occurs due to the ...
- 7 Hardest Crystal Dynamics Games, Ranked
Crystal Dynamics has its fair share of difficult titles, but these games are without a doubt the most brutal of them all to complete. Tomb Raider: Underworld offers challenging puzzles and intense ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Dynamic plasma/metal/dielectric crystals
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Dynamic plasma/metal/dielectric crystals” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]