Micro fiber optic cable will promote new technology

Scientists have created a type of ultra-small optical fiber - several times thinner than a human hair - capable of transmitting visible light. This invention promises to kick off a series of breakthroughs in areas such as solar energy, information technology and medicine.

This new invention was introduced in a paper published in Applied Physics Letters on Monday this week (January 8). That tiny cable is tied to re-visualizing coaxial cables (common paths used in television, phones and Internet services) on a very small scale.

For decades, coaxial cable is very familiar and outstanding thanks to the extremely efficient transmission quality. This cable consists of a core wire surrounded by insulation and the outer is a metal shell. That structure makes the cable able to transmit electromagnetic signals that have a larger wavelength than the wire itself.

Boston University physicists have successfully studied micro-cable: From left: Professor Krzysztof Kempa, Professor Michael Naughton, Manager of Boston University, Research Doctor Jakub Rybczynski, and Professor Zhifeng Lace.

Michael Naughton, chairman of Boston University's physics department and one of the scientists involved in the discovery, explains: ' We are doing what everyone knows, except to minimize it. counting the size of coaxial cable '.

Accordingly, they created a coaxial cable for light transmission containing carbon fiber core, surrounding an insulating core and outer aluminum wire. The width of the cable is about 300 nanometers, which is several hundred times smaller than a human hair. The rope at the cable core will pop out at one end to make the antenna detect light.

Visible light has a wavelength of 380 - 750 nanometers, but scientists have forced it to pass through a cable with a diameter smaller than that. They showed red and blue light through the cable, which proved to be able to transmit a wide spectrum of visible light.

' It's not exactly the speed of light, maybe only 90% of the speed of light. But that is thousands of times faster than electricity , 'Mr. Naughton said. Naughton said the invention promises to make much progress in technology, he said, " it's important because it's really useful ."

According to Mr. Naughton, ultra-small cables can also be used in high-efficiency solar batteries. It is also very suitable for 'mini' electrical diagrams and micro-light conversion devices used in optical computing. The application of ultra-small cables also extends into the field of medicine such as retinal implants for people with degenerative eye conditions or detecting individual molecules that are pathogens in the human body.

Do Duong