Researchers at the University of Sydney have combined a photonic filter and modulator on a single chip in a way that allows them to precisely detect signals across a wide band of radiofrequency (RF) spectrum. The work brings photonic chips one step closer to one day potentially replacing bulkier and more complex electronic RF chips in fiber optic networks.
The Sydney team exploited stimulated Brillouin scattering, a technique which involves converting electrical fields into pressure waves in certain insulators, such as optical fibers. In 2011, the researchers reported that Brillouin…
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News Source: spectrum.ieee.org