Solar Energy News  
TECH SPACE
The first laser radio transmitter
by Staff Writers
Boston MA (SPX) May 01, 2019

This device uses a frequency comb laser to emit and modulate microwaves wirelessly. The laser uses different frequencies of light beating together to generate microwave radiation. The researchers used this phenomenon to send a song wirelessly to a receiver.

You've never heard Dean Martin like this.

Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences transmitted a recording of Martin's classic "Volare" wirelessly via a semiconductor laser - the first time a laser has been used as a radio frequency transmitter.

In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers demonstrated a laser that can emit microwaves wirelessly, modulate them, and receive external radio frequency signals.

"The research opens the door to new types of hybrid electronic-photonic devices and is the first step toward ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi," said Federico Capasso, the Robert L. Wallace Professor of Applied Physics and Vinton Hayes Senior Research Fellow in Electrical Engineering, at SEAS and senior author of the study.

This research builds on previous work from the Capasso Lab. In 2017, the researchers discovered that an infrared frequency comb in a quantum cascade laser could be used to generate terahertz frequencies, the submillimeter wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum that could move data hundreds of times faster than today's wireless platforms. In 2018, the team found that quantum cascade laser frequency combs could also act as integrated transmitters or receivers to efficiently encode information.

Now, the researchers have figured out a way to extract and transmit wireless signals from laser frequency combs.

Unlike conventional lasers, which emit a single frequency of light, laser frequency combs emit multiple frequencies simultaneously, evenly spaced to resemble the teeth of a comb. In 2018, the researchers discovered that inside the laser, the different frequencies of light beat together to generate microwave radiation. The light inside the cavity of the laser caused electrons to oscillate at microwave frequencies - which are within the communications spectrum.

"If you want to use this device for Wi-Fi, you need to be able to put useful information in the microwave signals and extract that information from the device," said Marco Piccardo, a postdoctoral fellow at SEAS and first author of the paper.

The first thing the new device needed to transmit microwave signals was an antenna. So, the researchers etched a gap into the top electrode of the device, creating a dipole antenna (like the rabbit ears on the top of an old TV). Next, they modulated the frequency comb to encode information on the microwave radiation created by the beating light of the comb. Then, using the antenna, the microwaves are radiated out from the device, containing the encoded information. The radio signal is received by a horn antenna, filtered and sent to a computer.

The researchers also demonstrated that the laser radio could receive signals. The team was able to remotely control the behavior of the laser using microwave signals from another device.

"This all-in-one, integrated device holds great promise for wireless communication," said Piccardo. "While the dream of terahertz wireless communication is still a ways away, this research provides a clear roadmap showing how to get there."

The Harvard Office of Technology Development has protected the intellectual property relating to this project and is exploring commercialization opportunities.


Related Links
Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Space Technology News - Applications and Research


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


TECH SPACE
RIT researcher collaborates with UR to develop new form of laser for sound
Rochester NY (SPX) Apr 23, 2019
The optical laser has grown to a $10 billion global technology market since it was invented in 1960, and has led to Nobel prizes for Art Ashkin for developing optical tweezing and Gerard Mourou and Donna Strickland for work with pulsed lasers. Now a Rochester Institute of Technology researcher has teamed up with experts at the University of Rochester to create a different kind of laser - a laser for sound, using the optical tweezer technique invented by Ashkin. In the newest issue of Nature ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

TECH SPACE
Biodegradable bags can hold a full load of shopping after 3 years in the environment

How to take the 'petro' out of the petrochemicals industry

Researchers create artificial mother-of-pearl using bacteria

Harnessing sunlight to pull hydrogen from wastewater

TECH SPACE
An army of micro-robots can wipe out dental plaque

FEDOR Space Rescuer: Roscosmos 'Trains' Anthropomorphic Robot for Manned Mission

NASA 'Nose' importance of humans, robots exploring together

Snake-inspired robot slithers even better than predecessor

TECH SPACE
BayWa r.e. sells its first Australian wind farms to Epic Energy

The complicated future of offshore wind power in the US

SeaPlanner to support marine coordination for Taiwan's Formosa I Offshore Wind Farm

E.ON announces start of construction on South Texas windfarm

TECH SPACE
GM reports lower sales in China, North America

Ford invests $500 mn in electric vehicle startup Rivian

SwRI develops system to legally test GPS spoofing vulnerabilities in automated vehicles

Judge rules Lyft must follow New York rules for driver minimum wage

TECH SPACE
Graphene sponge helps lithium sulphur batteries reach new potential

Transforming waste heat into clean energy

China's quest for clean, limitless energy heats up

Artificial intelligence speeds efforts to develop clean, virtually limitless fusion energy

TECH SPACE
Fuel BU boosts technological innovation with its "Free to Innovate" initiative

Japan to halt nuke plants if anti-terror steps not taken

Japan turns to foreigners to decommission Fukushima plant

Framatome invests 12.6 million euro on its site of Ugine and inaugurates its new VAR furnace

TECH SPACE
Siemens inches forward in race to revamp Iraq's grid

US charges Chinese engineer with stealing GE technology

New York mayor targets classic skyscrapers with Green New Deal

Lights out around the globe for Earth Hour environmental campaign

TECH SPACE
Attacks on Brazil's ecological paradises threaten biodiversity

19 arrested in Brazil raids over illegal Amazon logging

Tropical forest the size of England destroyed in 2018: report

Illegal logging in Brazil turns Amazon into a powder keg









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.