New device gives optical fibre capacity boost

Project device increases transmission capacity and reduces energy consumption of optical fibre

Optical fibre networks boosted by photonics research

Researchers working at Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) have announced a major advance in the performance of optical data transmission.

The EU-funded Seventh Framework Programme PHASORS project has demonstrated a device, called a regenorator, which could cut optical signal noise from fibre networks, thereby significantly improving their data carrying capacity.

Data transmission over optical networks is currently limited by signal degradation from optical amplifier 'phase noise’ and ‘cross talk’ caused by interaction of the signal with other signals travelling over the network.

ORC deputy director and PHASORS director professor David Richardson said: " Our device can clean noise from incoming data signals and should allow for systems of extended physical length and capacity."

Boosting optical fibre network bandwidth is an important step towards preventing global networks being swamped by the ever-increasing amount of data being downloaded and uploaded by internet users.

Although the device has obvious implications for telecommunications, Richardson thinks the device and associated technology could also impact other disciplines such as optical sensing, and metrology.

The paper outlining the research is published this week in the journal Nature Photonics.

The PHASORS project started in 2008 and was tasked with developing new technology and components to improve the transmission capacity and energy efficiency of optical communication networks.

The project combines research expertise from Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland and ORC in the UK.