One of the biggest challenges prevalent within the Telecommunications Market is to read the electric field of light. The problem exists primarily because of the high speeds of lightwave oscillation. The most advanced power phone and internet communications systems can now clock electric fields at gigahertz frequencies, covering the electromagnetic spectrum's radio frequency and microwave parts. As light waves oscillate at high rates, they enable the transmission of information with equally high density.
On the contrary, currently available tools that calculate the light fields can only resolve a standard signal linked with a light pulse. They cannot evaluate the peaks and valleys present in the pulse. However, the action of measuring these peaks and valleys is reasonably necessary as that space can be used to pack and deliver information.
A recent study might have managed to overcome this problem. The team successfully developed the world's first optical oscilloscope. It is essentially an instrument that can measure the electric field of light. The device works by changing light oscillations into electrical signals. The idea is similar to hospital monitors that help convert the patients' heartbeat into electrical oscillation. The researchers have made a breakthrough within Telecommunication Market which might revolutionize the whole sector. Further, it could also act as a game-changer for standards communication technologies such as internet and phone connections.
Fiber optic communications have been advantageous for a long time, using light to make its process faster. Nonetheless, the world remains to be functionally limited due to the speed of the oscilloscope. This is why the optical oscilloscope brought forth through present research is highly relevant as it might help increase the current speed.
The team developed the devices and showcased their abilities in real-time measurements of the electric fields made by individual laser pulses present in a lab at UCF. The researchers added that they are set to undertake their next task. They will investigate how far they can take the speed limits of the technique by a factor of around ten thousand.