Conservative refuge

“What enables this technology is that our devices generate ultrabroad bandwidth radio frequencies needed to transmit the high data rates required for high resolution displays,” Weiner said. Although the technology might eventually be developed to both receive and transmit signals, initially it is likely to be commercialized in devices that only receive signals, for “one-way” traffic, such as television sets, projectors, monitors and printers, say the researchers. This is because the sending unit for transmitting data is still a little bulky. If its size can be reduced enough to allow it to be integrated into the devices, it would enable full two-way traffic, making possible the wireless operation of things like hard-disc drives and computers. The approach could also be used for transmitting wireless signals inside cars. The researchers first create laser pulses with specific “shapes” that characterize the changing intensity of light from the beginning to end of each pulse. The pulses are then converted into radio frequency signals.
A key factor making the advance potentially useful is that the pulses transmit radio frequencies of up to 60 gigahertz, a frequency included in the window of the radio spectrum not reserved for military communications. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission does not require a license to transmit signals from 57-64 gigahertz and this unlicensed band also is permitted globally, meaning systems using 60 gigahertz could be compatible worldwide. “There is only a very limited window for civil operations, and 60 gigahertz falls within this window,” Qi said.