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New Optical Fiber Replaces Glass With Semiconductive Core

Posted by timothy on from the nougat-was-tempting-but dept.

cylonlover writes "Fiber optic cables can transmit over a terabyte of information per second – but that doesn't mean there still isn't room for improvement. One of those improvements, which was officially announced today, involves replacing the silica glass core of fiber optic strands with semiconductive zinc selenide. This new class of fiber optics, invented and created at Penn State University, is said to 'allow for a more effective and liberal manipulation of light.' The technology could have applications in the fields of medicine, defense, and environmental monitoring."

56 comments

  1. two questions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Better bend radius?

    How about sending control/test/signalling over the copper as well?

    1. Re:two questions by Sulphur · · Score: 1

      Terabytes per second: Does that mean that space diverse backups can be done?

  2. Now let the CIA, NSA, FBI and local cops have it. by elucido · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    They need it to monitor us criminals, terrorists, and subversives.

  3. Re:Now let the CIA, NSA, FBI and local cops have i by ko7 · · Score: 1

    Yeah, good idea. I'm pretty sure I read something about the need for this technology in an HBGary email or two...

  4. media bias by managementboy · · Score: 3, Funny

    ohh, again that liberal manipulation! where are those god fearing wires when you need them?

    1. Re:media bias by EasyTarget · · Score: 1

      Commies! Upsetting the peaceful internets.. shoot 'em

      --
      "Oops, I always forget the purpose of competition is to divide people into winners and losers." - Hobbes
    2. Re:media bias by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe you can make fun of them some more and they will come around to your way of thinking?

      I mean over the years I have found the best way to convince someone of that your argument is correct is to make fun of them. Brilliant!

    3. Re:media bias by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When someone will not be convinced by any means anyway, at least ridicule will alleviate some of the frustration.

    4. Re:media bias by hedwards · · Score: 1

      Conservativism in this respect is indistinguishable from mental illness. No matter how much evidence and no matter how reliable said evidence is, there's a substantial number of people who refuse to accept reality or pose a plausible justification for why it isn't true.

    5. Re:media bias by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Congratulations, you've discovered satire.

  5. Dispersion by NickyNack · · Score: 1

    The article only states that the wavelength can be modified easier. But will the "new fiber" have the ability to transmit over long(er) distances compared to the traditional ones?

    1. Re:Dispersion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's not a replacement for backhaul fiber. It's an improved material for optical amplifiers, frequency doublers, and other non-linear optical systems.

  6. Replace SiO4 with ZnSe? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sure, let's replace thousands kilometers of broadly available glass with some expensive, rare and poisonous metal alloy, for a few % improvement in bandwidth.

    1. Re:Replace SiO4 with ZnSe? by ciderbrew · · Score: 1

      OK. I like this idea. a few % will be worth it.

    2. Re:Replace SiO4 with ZnSe? by kmdrtako · · Score: 2

      You really don't want your data running over low grade unreliable SiO4 fibre.

      You can only trust your data on Carnegie Glass's high quality ZnSe fibre. It's the only way to be sure.

      Ask your ISP today if they use Carnegie ZnSe fibre in their infrastructure. Insist on only the best.

      This has been a public service announcement from Carnegie Glass.

    3. Re:Replace SiO4 with ZnSe? by snookiex · · Score: 1

      They shouldn't have replaced the broadly available telegraph lines with an expensive glass thing in first place. Anyway, no one is going to replace anything until it is proven "cost-befitable".

      --
      Open Source Network Inventory for the masses! Kuwaiba
    4. Re:Replace SiO4 with ZnSe? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Selenium has no hope of ever being cheap, it is rare by itself. Copper for telegraph lines is also not so cheap, and it requires high transmission power. Glass can be mass-produced with cheap materials available everywhere, and requires fewer repeaters than electric currents on copper. Even at the times when optical fibers were more expensive, it could be foreseen their prices wold decrease with a larger production, while Selenium will always stay expensive.

    5. Re:Replace SiO4 with ZnSe? by tmosley · · Score: 1

      Uhhh, zinc selenide is neither of those things. It is not soluble in water, so it is not toxic. The feedstock is about twice the price right now, but that will come down with increased production volume.

      But hey, change is bad, right, so fuck it.

    6. Re:Replace SiO4 with ZnSe? by Gilmoure · · Score: 1

      Distributed by Monster Cables?

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
    7. Re:Replace SiO4 with ZnSe? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To which Space Nutters will reply that asteroids are full of selenium! 10^23 kilograms of it!! The fact that we have no technology at all to mine asteroids is no deterrent to Space Nutters, they'll just go and read more bad sci-fi and call it engineering!

    8. Re:Replace SiO4 with ZnSe? by Sulphur · · Score: 1

      s/SiO4/SiO2/

    9. Re:Replace SiO4 with ZnSe? by hedwards · · Score: 1

      Water solubility isn't a requirement for toxicity. Hg for instance isn't water soluble, but is definitely toxic. Likewise, I wouldn't recommend drinking motor oil, because while it isn't water soluble, it's definitely toxic.

  7. Whoah! by Chuq · · Score: 0

    Holy shit, don't tell Malcolm Turnbull!

    --
    - Chuq
  8. Not really about increased bandwidth at all by MasterPatricko · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Article and summary are misleading ... the main application is that zinc selenide cores are better than glass at longer wavelengths (so infrared lasers - like the ones the military are very keen on - become more possible). They also suggest it would enable artistic installations to do more fancy stuff with colours.

    The potential bandwidth improvements over long-distance glass core fiber optic cables are not mentioned as significant, and it sounds like it would uneconomical anyway given that the manufacturing of these zinc selenide cores doesn't sound easy.

    --
    I'd tell a UDP joke, but you may not get it. I'd tell a TCP joke, but I'd have to keep repeating it until you got it.
    1. Re:Not really about increased bandwidth at all by BCMcI · · Score: 1

      Really long wavelengths is right. I worked with early versions of this in Infrared spectroscopy out to beyond 10um about 15-20 years ago. It was very brittle and hard to work with.

    2. Re:Not really about increased bandwidth at all by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      why are the military very keen on infradred lasers+

    3. Re:Not really about increased bandwidth at all by afxgrin · · Score: 1

      Infradred laz0rz goes through stuff like fog and clouds and air bettar-

  9. Earthing? by grahamlord86 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If it's semi-conductive, does it need to be earthed over a long run?

    One advantage of fibre is the electrical isolation, no interference, and no potential difference between buildings.

    Does having a semicondictive core erase that?

    1. Re:Earthing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Probably not, intrinsic (undoped) semiconductors are really poor conductors, you could probably make the approximation that any long length of it had basically infinite resistance.

  10. Liberal bias by mbone · · Score: 3, Funny

    The new fiber is said to "allow for a more effective and liberal manipulation of light."

    Upon hearing this news Speaker of the House John Boehner announced a bill to ban all Federal optical fiber research, saying it was further evidence of a "dangerous liberal bias in the research community."

    1. Re:Liberal bias by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's the problem isn't it. So many of these so called 'intelligent' researchers and scientists identify themselves as liberal or even worse: centrists. No one should be allowed a degree until they can demonstrate they know how to think right and aren't an enemy of America.

    2. Re:Liberal bias by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Grow up Dude!

  11. How abundant and hazardous? by Rivalz · · Score: 1

    I've never heard of zinc selenide so I looked it up.
    Sounds hazardous. On the plus side maybe it will kill the rats that chew through the fiber optics.
    I couldn't easily find out how abundant and cheap the material is.
    Personally I don't think you can get too much cheaper than silica but then again I've got no clue what I'm talking about.

    1. Re:How abundant and hazardous? by kj_kabaje · · Score: 1

      "Zinc selenide (ZnSe), is a light yellow binary solid compound. It is an intrinsic semiconductor with a band gap of about 2.70 eV at 25 °C. ZnSe rarely occurs in nature. It is found in the mineral stilleite named after Hans Stille."

      "Stilleite is a selinide mineral, zinc selenide with formula ZnSe. It has been found only as microscopic grey crystals associated with other selenides. It was originally discovered in Katanga Province, Zaire in 1956 and is named for the German geologist, Hans Stille (1876-1966)."

      So... not sure of the cost to manufacture,... but raw extraction from politically unstable Zaire sounds more costly on the face of it.

    2. Re:How abundant and hazardous? by tmosley · · Score: 1

      Sounds hazardous, does it? So does dihydrogen monoxide.

      Zinc Selenide is no more hazardous than dirt. It is not soluble in water, and as such, can't enter the bloodstream, unless you are stuffing gobs of the stuff down your throat, and even then its unlikely.

      How about we actually, you know, think about these things rather than just dismissing them because they "sound hazardous"?

    3. Re:How abundant and hazardous? by tmosley · · Score: 3, Informative

      On SigmaAldrich, the price is a little more than twice that of silicon dioxide of similar purity (optical grade). Increased production volumes are likely to greatly reduce the price.

      Note that it is RARELY FOUND IN NATURE, and Zaire is one of the places it is found. It is, of course, incredibly simple to manufacture. Just combine zinc with selenium. The reaction is highly exothermic, so once you add a little heat to get it started, it will power itself to completion.

    4. Re:How abundant and hazardous? by Rivalz · · Score: 1

      I did think and even looked up the material.
      I even checked it twice now... still sounds hazardous to me. But like I said I could be wrong and these could be overkill warnings.

      Hazards
      EU Index 034-002-00-8
      EU classification Toxic (T)
      Dangerous for the environment (N)
      R-phrases R23/25, R33, R50/53
      R23/25: Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed
      R33: Danger of cumulative effects
      R50/53: Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment

      S-phrases (S1/2), S20/21, S28, S45, S60, S61
      (S1): Keep locked up
      S20/21: When using do not eat, drink or smoke
      S28: After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of ... (to be specified by the manufacturer)
      S45: In case of accident or if you feel unwell seek medical advice immediately (show the label where possible)
      S60: This material and its container must be disposed of as hazardous waste
      S61: Avoid release to the environment. Refer to special instructions/safety data sheet

    5. Re:How abundant and hazardous? by SleazyRidr · · Score: 1

      Well, compared to a lot of other stuff this isn't that bad, but then again, if it were spread across a wide area (for a big fibre network) it would be a bit of a hazard. A lot more of a hazard than silica at any rate.

      Selenium is quite rare, and zinc isn't super cheap, so it would be fairly expensive. There'll probably be some niche use for this, but it won't be knocking silica off it's perch any time soon.

      --
      Is 1563649 a prime number?
  12. Re:First Post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... and done without any fancy fiber optic cables?

    just shut the fuck up kthx

  13. gimme gimme gimme by bakamorgan · · Score: 2

    I will care when I can get this to my house and I have a computer that can take advantage of those speeds. So I can stream my pro... err netflix movies and let the wife play her facebook games at the same time.

  14. Dont tell The Liberal Party of Australia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They will add it to there crazy list of why we shouldn't roll out the NBN (National broadband network that uses mainly fibre)

  15. Poor summary. by msauve · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'll bet the first post did travel over fiber optics somewhere along its path.

    Having said that, it appears that the technology mentioned in the article has nothing to do with data transmission over fiber optics. The examples given in the article include fiber optics "used for signs, displays, and art." There's also a brief mention of military lasers.

    They make these new fibers by starting with hollow glass capillaries, then chemically depositing within. Try doing that to make a 1000 foot continuous fiber, which is a common bulk spool size. The article, unlike the summary, makes absolutely no mention of any potential for data transmission usage.

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  16. This is good for brain surgery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    It is hard to get the CO2 laser beam into the required area of the brain, precisely because no fiber would transmit the IR (wavelength = 10.6 micrometers) light. They are using a very clumsy pivoting arm with mirrors type of device for beam guiding which limits the ability to operate using CO2 lasers to superficial parts of the brain. Given the much better coagulative properties and larger penetration depth into biological tissue of the 10.6 micrometer light as opposed to, say, currently used YAG lasers (wavelength 1 to 2 micrometers, depending on the doping atoms) I expect this discovery to enable a whole new range of laser based surgical procedures.

    The quality of scientific reporting at gizmag and all those tech-tabloids is pretty appalling, though. Seriously it is the fricken web, the thing was invented to make referring to original/more advanced sources easier. How hard it is to put a damn link to the publication or at least the uni press release!?

    1. Re:This is good for brain surgery by marcosdumay · · Score: 1

      That is not restricted to science reporting. Things are comming to a point where blogers are more trustworth and informative than the professional press. At least most bloggers will link to their reference data.

      --
      Rethinking email
    2. Re:This is good for brain surgery by timeOday · · Score: 1

      The quality of scientific reporting at gizmag and all those tech-tabloids is pretty appalling, though.

      I think the fact that fiber optics are so important in information transmission actually muddles things in this case, causing many of us to assume this was supposed to be a competitor to glass fiber optics instead of a way to carry lower frequency energy for cutting.

  17. Men who stare at goats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    From the article:
    "To make the fibers, the scientists stared with hollow glass capillaries."

    I wonder if the recently in the news psy-ops program can contribute. They do wonders with goats!

  18. Networking? by ramzaruglia · · Score: 1

    I think this is what the wave of network improvements that the world needs. But, I wonder when it will be implemented, maybe in Asia. Here in the Philippines, we are still stuck with the 1MBPS for home usage and 12MPBS for companies, which is our total bandwidth.

  19. Could this work with Light Peak / Thunderbolt? by StuartHankins · · Score: 1

    Maybe I'm way off base, but when I read TFS I immediately thought of Light Peak / Thunderbolt.

    1. Re:Could this work with Light Peak / Thunderbolt? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that's because you're a fucking idiot. lurk more.

  20. 'allow for a more effective and liberal...' by circletimessquare · · Score: 1

    'allow for a more effective and liberal manipulation of light.'

    it is bad enough this communist secret muslim obama is turning us into a freedom destroying country by giving us better healthcare. now his vile fascist liberal agenda is to manipulate the physical properties of light itself? as a solid conservative, i will not abide it

    photons are conservative particles: conservation of mass-energy, conservation of momentum, etc. those evil liberals want to turn this good god-fearing conservative particle with possibly homosexual physical manipulations? no, not on my watch. the liberals will not mess with the laws of nature, like evolution

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
    1. Re:'allow for a more effective and liberal...' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't be a douchebag. It's not cute and it's not funny.

  21. Link to the real article by bbasgen · · Score: 1

    Curious. Couldn't find a recent publication, but here is an article from 2006 with the same title and subject. http://tanzanite.chem.psu.edu/pdfs/806_Optoelectronics%20Reprint.pdf

  22. Comms speed is measured in bits/second by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You would think that someone writing about fiber optics should know that.

  23. And still by Nyder · · Score: 1

    most of us are stuck with a copper last mile.

    --
    Be seeing you...
  24. someone had too say it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A terabyte a second should be enough for anyone!