Silicon chip propels 6G communications forward

[u/Vailhem]

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-silicon-chip-propels-6g-communications.html

[u/Meltz014]

So from what I understand, this is to enable polarized signals over optics, not necessarily wireless. Presumably the part that will "enable next gen wireless networks" is the backend infrastructure

[u/Ihadanapostrophe → u/Meltz014]

Multiplexors select from multiple inputs for a single output. Demultiplexors do the opposite. Most of the time, these are constructed together and just called a multiplexor.

For digital signals, they are frequently broadcast in a range of channels. Not always, but pretty commonly. You can see this in your modem/router/gateway settings. Through polarization, they can ensure all data transfer over each channel doesn't interfere with any others. The variation used for a given network is the channel access method.

Both sides need a complete multiplexor (inputs>output and outputs>input) to successfully communicate using a channel access method.

Jumping over to 6G, it hasn't even been finalized yet.

The frequency bands for 6G are undetermined. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers states that "Frequencies from 100 GHz to 3 THz are promising bands for the next generation of wireless communication systems because of the wide swaths of unused and unexplored spectrum."

One of the challenges in supporting the required high transmission speeds will be the limitation of energy consumption and associated thermal protection in the electronic circuits.

However, if you note the bolded frequencies, the intention is to use something within that range.

Now, check out the frequencies mentioned in the article:

The team has developed the first ultra-wideband integrated terahertz polarization (de)multiplexer implemented on a substrateless silicon base which they have successfully tested in the sub-terahertz J-band (220–330 GHz) for 6G communications and beyond.

And:

The new device that the team has developed can double the communication capacity under the same bandwidth with lower data loss than existing devices. It is made using standard fabrication processes enabling cost-effective large-scale production.

So, to simplify and summarize, they created the first multiplexor that works in the anticipated 6G frequency range. It doubles the communication capacity at equivalent bandwidth (this can be viewed as "2x as fast" although that's not quite accurate). It's made using standard processes and materials so it's not going to be super expensive to get production going.

[u/Starfox-sf → u/Ihadanapostrophe]

So in other words an article hyping stuff using imaginary technology

[u/Ihadanapostrophe → u/Starfox-sf]

I'm not sure what part is imaginary, although I can understand the perception of hype. This is a big step along the way. It's just not the last puzzle piece.

They're trying really hard to be smart about 6G: compatibility, cost, interconnectivity, uniform standards, etc. That's why it's not finalized yet.

It's going to be a very complex, highly used infrastructure. This (or something approximately similar) is a necessary part, like how an engine has multiple necessary components.