For the first time, twisted light waves traveled over a large distance outdoors, passing above Vienna rooftops and seemingly clearing the way for advancements in data communication, new research shows.
Previous research has shown that if a beam of a certain color, or wavelength, of light is twisted into a corkscrew shape, it can drastically increase the number of channels for data to pass through. Instead of data being transmitted through just one channel, it can theoretically travel through copious channels via twisted light. This twisting technique - known as orbital angular momentum (OAM) - could revolutionize the world of physics and communications.
Described in the Institute of Physics and German Physical Society's New Journal of Physics, researchers sent 16 different twisted configurations of a specific wavelength of light from ZAMG (Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics) to a receiver 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) away at the University of Vienna. This light was then encoded with real information - specifically, grey-scale images of famous persons Wolfgang-Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig Boltzmann, and Erwin Schrödinger.
"The OAM of light is theoretically unbounded, meaning that one has, in theory, an unlimited amount of different distinguishable states in which light can be encoded. It is envisaged that this additional degree of freedom could significantly increase data-rates in classical communication," study co-author Mario Krenn explained in a statement.
OAM has been explored by researchers in the past, but this is the first time it has successfully traveled over such a large distance. It can even send 2.5 terabits of data in just one second - the carrying capacity of more than 66 DVDs - through an optical fiber. The problem is optical fibers are not always suitable or available, which is why this communication breakthrough has only just occurred.
Researchers also believe OAM could be useful when people are trying to transmit information that is meant to be classified, considering this type of quantum communication is labeled as "unbreakable."
[Credit: NewJournalofPhysics]