Using gallium phosphide-on-silicon dioxide technology, thecompact photonic chip boosts signals with unprecedented efficiency.
Researchers at EPFL and IBM Research Europe have unveiled a groundbreaking optical amplifier that could transform modern communication networks. Traditional optical amplifiers, such as erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), have long supported data transmission but are constrained by limited spectral bandwidth. As demand for faster, high-capacity networks surges, existing solutions are struggling to keep up.
To address this, scientists developed a cutting-edge traveling-wave parametric amplifier (TWPA) on a photonic chip. Published in Nature, their work leverages gallium phosphide-on-silicon dioxide technology to achieve unprecedented broadband signal amplification in a highly compact form.
Unlike conventional amplifiers that rely on rare-earth elements, this new TWPA exploits optical nonlinearity—where light amplifies itself by interacting with a carefully designed spiral waveguide. This innovation delivers over 10 dB of gain across a massive 140 nm bandwidth—three times broader than traditional EDFAs.
Gallium phosphide was chosen for its superior optical properties. Its strong nonlinearity enables efficient signal boosting, while its high refractive index tightly confines light within the waveguide. This results in significant amplification with a waveguide just a few centimeters long, dramatically reducing the device’s size and power requirements.
Tests showed the amplifier achieving up to 35 dB of gain while maintaining low noise. It effectively amplified weak signals across six orders of magnitude, making it highly adaptable to various applications beyond telecommunications. The amplifier also improved the performance of optical frequency combs and coherent communication signals, two essential technologies in modern optical networks.
This breakthrough has profound implications for data centers, AI processors, and high-performance computing systems, where speed and efficiency are paramount. Additionally, the technology extends beyond data transmission, with potential applications in precision sensing, optical metrology, and even LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles.
By pushing the boundaries of optical amplification, this new photonic-chip-based TWPA could pave the way for next-generation communication infrastructure, delivering faster, more efficient, and more scalable data transfer solutions.
