The New Wave of Wifi

Wifi has improved people's lives whether it is for teaching, learning, or for leisure, it has proved to be essential for many people. With all of these people using wifi, it was only a matter of time until there wasn't enough bandwidth Articles from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science explain this issue in great detail. Both articles discuss using terahertz frequencies as a way to transmit information in communications because the frequencies "could move hundred's of times faster than today's wireless" (phys.org).

Terahertz is a unit of frequency (10^12 hertz). As shown in the image above, terahertz waves are in between radio waves and light. Terahertz frequency isn't as fast as x-rays, but is much faster than microwaves. Because these waves are in the middle, they have the advantage of being an ideal frequency for microwaves or something stronger, such as x-rays.

an optical frequency comb

credit: Jarad Sisler/Harvard SEAS

In 2017, optical frequency combs gained attention when research was found of the comb generating terahertz frequencies. In the image directly above, the optical frequency combs are shown. The combs produced different spectrum spacing, but both are useful in different ways. Optical frequency combs by definition are "high-precision tools, used for measuring and detecting different frequencies" (phys.org). While these combs are useful for how they've been, new research has linked them between generating terahertz frequencies.

credit: Jarad Sisler/Harvard SEAS

In 2018, research on laser frequency combs stated it could be the improved wifi by using terahertz frequencies. Both optical and laser frequency combs have attempted to generate the terahertz frequencies because it is clear the bandwidth of wifi as it is now is not going to be sufficient for the future. Laser frequency combs, however, are a much newer discovery, "which would allow these devices to act as integrated transmitters or receivers that can efficiently encode information" (phys.org). By focusing on the inside of the laser, as shown above, it was "discovered that light inside the cavity of the laser causes electrons to oscillate at microwave frequencies" (phys.org).

The discovery of what occurs inside the laser brings up the question of utilizing this frequency for wifi. As said before, the current bandwidth is only able to withstand so many people, but the research from both 2017 & 2018 suggests that a terahertz source from optical or laser frequency combs could positively impact wifi by providing faster information and increasing the bandwidth.

These articles have made me excited for the future of technology. Even though I rely desperately on wifi, it can only be so efficient. By continuing to research and discover an even better alternative to traditional wifi, we as a society are able to evolve and not rely on current discoveries for too long. It is important to not settle with what has been discovered, but to instead constantly question, research, and discover ways to improve what is currently used. If the people from Harvard had decided to not begin research on the topic of frequency combs, they wouldn't have discovered such groundbreaking information.

sources:
https://phys.org/news/2018-04-laser-frequency-future-wi-fi.html
https://phys.org/news/2017-10-optical-frequency-convenient-elusive-terahertz.html