Hardwares
China: Super-thin fiber carries 10,000+ times more data, views brain cells live
Scientists in China claim to have developed a new type of ultra-thin optical fiber that could improve brain imaging and boost high-speed communications.
This fiber, which runs on an optical neural network, can carry tens of thousands of times more data than regular single-mode fibers.
This technology could make real-time imaging of brain nerve cells possible, helping doctors diagnose diseases more effectively. It could also be used for faster internet connections, quantum computing, and micro-photonic devices.
The research was conducted by teams from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Southeast University in Nanjing, and the University of Technology Sydney.
How optical fiber works
Optical fibers, made from thin strands of plastic or glass, transmit data as pulses of light at high speed. There are two primary types: single-mode and multimode fibers.
Single-mode fibers, used for long-distance communication, send only one light signal at a time, usually from a laser. Multimode fibers have a wider core and allow multiple light signals from LEDs to travel through them. However, these signals bounce off the fiber’s edges, which can scramble the data.
Scientists have ways to fix this problem, like using artificial neural networks or spatial light modulators, but these methods take time and use a lot of energy. They also require changing the light signals into electrical signals before processing them, which slows things down.
To solve this issue, researchers added tiny diffractive neural networks, about the size of a grain of salt, to the ends of ultra-thin multimode fibers. These networks can read and process light signals in real-time without needing complex computing power.
Medical applications and future testing
The scientists are already working on medical uses for this technology. Yu Haoyi, an associate professor at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology’s School of Artificial Intelligence Science and Technology, said they are testing the fiber in partnership with a hospital on Hainan Island.
“We have started using the fiber-integrated diffractive neural networks to detect light signals that indicate lesions from samples obtained from the hospital under the microscope,” said Yu.
He explained that this is the first step toward testing the fiber in animals and, eventually, in humans.
“Discussions with the doctors have offered pointers for the direction of our research,” Yu said. “Patients could ingest harmless, luminescent materials that make targeted organs glow, allowing our optical-fiber device to detect any abnormalities.”
Haoyi explained that this new fiber provides much clearer images than current endoscopic equipment, which could help doctors detect small tumors that might otherwise be missed.
“We can also integrate the device with a deep-learning algorithm trained to identify pathological changes to improve screening accuracy, facilitating early detection, diagnosis, and treatment,” he expressed.
The findings were published in Nature Photonics.
Source: China: Super-thin fiber carries 10,000+ times more data, views brain cells live
