How is photonics changing the way we interact with light?

Photonics has its roots in the development of the quantum theory of light in the early 20th century. In 1905, Albert Einstein proposed the theory of the photoelectric effect, explaining how light can be thought of as particles called photons. This concept was fundamental to understanding the wave-particle duality of light and laid the foundations of what we know today as photonics.

Later, in 1960, the American physicist Theodore Harold Maiman developed the laser, marking a milestone by enabling the precise manipulation of light and ushering in a new era in communication technology, medicine and other fields.

What are the applications of photonics in our everyday activities?

Photonics is a fundamental discipline that influences many aspects of technology and science. The study and application of light and its properties ranges from the generation, emission, transmission and detection of light to its manipulation through different media. Today, photonics is present in areas as diverse as communications, medicine, defence and security or entertainment:

– Telecommunications: Photonics is crucial in modern telecommunications, especially in data transmission through optical fibres. The light signals transmitted over these fibres enable fast, high-capacity communication over long distances with minimal signal loss.

– Medicine and Biology: for both laser therapies and medical diagnostics through MRI (Magnetic Resconance Imaging) and OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography).

– Defence and Security: with use for mapping and terrain monitoring through tools such as LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) or for secure communications.

– Entertainment: photonics is the basis of the popular LED and OLED technologies already present in the vast majority of displays. In addition, many virtual and augmented reality technologies make use of photonics for the creation of high quality images.

Challenges for photonics

There are several challenges that photonics must face in order to maximise its full potential. These range from miniaturisation and integration of photonic components on electronic chips in an efficient way, to reducing production costs, improving the energy efficiency of photonic devices or scalability of their production.

With all this, promising developments are expected to be carried out, including:

1. Photonic Computing: The integration of photonic components into processors and circuits promises to overcome the speed and energy efficiency limitations of traditional electronics, opening the door to a new generation of supercomputers and mobile devices with higher performance than today.
2. Quantum Communications: Quantum photonics is crucial for the development of ultra-secure communication networks based on the principle of quantum entanglement.
3. Renewable Energy Technologies: Advances in photonics can improve the efficiency of solar cells and other renewable energy technologies, contributing to a faster transition to sustainable energy sources and helping to mitigate climate change.
4. Biomedicine and Diagnostics: Photonics could revolutionise medicine with advanced imaging techniques and light-based therapies, ranging from improved diagnostic accuracy to the development of new minimally invasive treatment modalities.
5. Internet of Things (IoT): photonics will enable higher bandwidth communications between IoT devices. Photonic networks can provide the high speed and low latency needed to support the growing number of connected devices.
6. Autonomous Vehicles: thanks to advanced optical sensors for sensing and communication, photonics will provide more accurate and safer navigation for autonomous vehicles. In addition, fast data processing will be facilitated through optical interconnections in the vehicle’s Artificial Intelligence systems.

Use of photonics in ARQUIMEA

ARQUIMEA Research Center, the research center of the ARQUIMEA group located in the Canary Islands, has an orbital dedicated to research in the Quantum field with research lines in photonics.

ARQUIMEA Research Center develops from high bandwidth communication systems for inter-satellite communication links, to co-processing architectures using photonic technology to accelerate Artificial Intelligence routines. Our goal is to create miniaturized versions of photonic systems that can meet the demands of society beyond the laboratory environment where the enormous benefits of light can play a key role.

In addition, all ARQUIMEA Research Center projects belong to the QCIRCLE project, co-funded by the European Union, which aims to create a center of scientific excellence in Spain.

 

“Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union and neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them”.