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Japanese Researchers Transmit 3Gbps Using Terahertz Frequencies

Posted by samzenpus on from the greased-lightning dept.

MrSeb writes "Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a new wireless transmission system that works above all currently regulated spectrum frequencies. The new system works at the range of 300GHz to 3THz (terahertz), which is the Far Infrared (FIR) frequencies of the infrared spectrum. That spectrum is currently totally unregulated by any country or standards organization in the world, making it ripe for development of new technologies. So far the Japanese researchers have transmitted data at 3Gbps, but in theory speeds of up to 100Gbps should be possible."

9 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Gamma Rays by Sigvatr · · Score: 5, Funny

    How soon will it be until Japan begins transmitting gamma rays?

  2. Hmmm... by mcgrew · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Infrared? Not exactly wi-fi. You'd have to be in the same room as the router for this to work. I don't see many practical applications.

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    1. Re:Hmmm... by MacTO · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Different wavelengths of IR have different properties. Indeed the BBC article notes: "as terahertz waves penetrate many materials as effectively as X-rays".

    2. Re:Hmmm... by heypete · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Infrared? Not exactly wi-fi. You'd have to be in the same room as the router for this to work. I don't see many practical applications.

      It sounds actually quite reasonable for private wireless networks: put a transceiver on the ceiling or an elevated part of the wall and provide high-speed access to network devices in that room.

      Assuming the waves wouldn't penetrate ordinary building materials (though the wikipedia suggests that some building materials are not reasonably opaque to these waves) then one could have the convenience of a wireless network without the security risks involved with longer-range radio waves that can be picked up at much greater distances.

  3. I have an ignorant question... by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've heard before that the higher the range of frequency, the harder it is for signals to penetrate things like walls. If we keep advancing along these lines, could this potentially ease our troubles with wifi-over-saturation because we won't be picking up our neighbors' signals?

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  4. Just answered my own question by LanMan04 · · Score: 5, Informative

    "Terahertz radiation is non-ionizing submillimeter microwave radiation and shares with microwaves the capability to penetrate a wide variety of non-conducting materials. Terahertz radiation can pass through clothing, paper, cardboard, wood, masonry, plastic and ceramics. It can also penetrate fog and clouds, but cannot penetrate metal or water."

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terahertz

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  5. Re:Fry Me a Couple by compro01 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Quickly! Shut off your monitor. It is bombarding you with radiation in the hundreds of terahertz!

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  6. Major advance, stupid article by Animats · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The real news here is that terahertz electronics is getting small, and potentially cheap. That has many uses. Most of them, though, do not involve data transmission. Terahertz radar will be useful for medical imaging, security, and driverless cars. There will probably be manufacturing applications, like quick 3D profiles of objects for inspection and measurement.

    Point to point terahertz data transmission probably isn't that useful. Point to point laser links have never been very useful. At light and near-light frequencies, rain, snow, and fog will block the beam. If you want one, outdoor laser links are commercially available.

  7. Re:Fry Me a Couple by jd · · Score: 3, Funny

    I am Icarus, and I approve of this message.

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