Recent high speed data transfer methods using light have produced some record breaking results. 101.7 terabits/sec from NEC and 109 terabits/sec from Japan's NIICT may seem astounding, but each has their issues. NEC has 370 individual lasers in the trunk, and the NIICT has a complex multi-core conduit that is difficult to manufacture. Simplicity is the real goal.
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, have achieved 26 terabits/sec on a single fibre. Using those good old Fast Fourier Transforms we all learned in school, and wrote on tiny little cheat sheets, the team was able to send high speed data encoded as 325 distinct colors (frequency comb) down 50km of fibre. The received can also decode the light and sequence to build the correct data stream. Earlier attempts had issues with timing. The team simply moved the delays between bits further apart. Professor Wolfgang Freude, a co-author of the paper and project member, stated that this technology is silicon ready.
Cable issues have been simplified, but at the cost of a more complex transmitting/receiving solution. One these solutions will be dominant. My opinion, it will be the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology FFT solution.
Need a refresher on Fast Fourier Transforms? Start here.
Eavesdropper
pic via Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
