OptoChips, another media revolution?

2000/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Komunikazioak

Optochips, or electro-optical modulators, are microscopic elements that convert electrical signals into optical signals. Through them, the transport of information so necessary for the media is totally streamlined, and they are of great importance in fiber optic or satellite media.

They offer an opportunity to accelerate the flow of information so needed today in telecommunications, capable of transmitting a lot of information across a very small surface.

Several polymers developed at the Universities of Washington and Southern California present ideal characteristics to build OptoChips that can revolutionize telecommunications. Polymer OptoChips are capable of transporting 1,000 Gigabits per second, which is six times less energy than conventional crystals. Therefore, progress is expected in this field, as the use of OptoChips will be much more economical and effective from now on. According to researcher Larry Dalton, electro-optical modulators will allow real-time communication in a very short term. With a greater capacity to transport information, scientists believe that the Information Society will be a real revolution.