New Optical Fiber Replaces Glass With Semiconductive Core 56
cylonlover writes "Fiber optic cables can transmit over a terabyte of information per second – but that doesn't mean there still isn't room for improvement. One of those improvements, which was officially announced today, involves replacing the silica glass core of fiber optic strands with semiconductive zinc selenide. This new class of fiber optics, invented and created at Penn State University, is said to 'allow for a more effective and liberal manipulation of light.' The technology could have applications in the fields of medicine, defense, and environmental monitoring."
Re:Dispersion (Score:5, Informative)
It's not a replacement for backhaul fiber. It's an improved material for optical amplifiers, frequency doublers, and other non-linear optical systems.
Poor summary. (Score:5, Informative)
Having said that, it appears that the technology mentioned in the article has nothing to do with data transmission over fiber optics. The examples given in the article include fiber optics "used for signs, displays, and art." There's also a brief mention of military lasers.
They make these new fibers by starting with hollow glass capillaries, then chemically depositing within. Try doing that to make a 1000 foot continuous fiber, which is a common bulk spool size. The article, unlike the summary, makes absolutely no mention of any potential for data transmission usage.
This is good for brain surgery (Score:5, Informative)
It is hard to get the CO2 laser beam into the required area of the brain, precisely because no fiber would transmit the IR (wavelength = 10.6 micrometers) light. They are using a very clumsy pivoting arm with mirrors type of device for beam guiding which limits the ability to operate using CO2 lasers to superficial parts of the brain. Given the much better coagulative properties and larger penetration depth into biological tissue of the 10.6 micrometer light as opposed to, say, currently used YAG lasers (wavelength 1 to 2 micrometers, depending on the doping atoms) I expect this discovery to enable a whole new range of laser based surgical procedures.
The quality of scientific reporting at gizmag and all those tech-tabloids is pretty appalling, though. Seriously it is the fricken web, the thing was invented to make referring to original/more advanced sources easier. How hard it is to put a damn link to the publication or at least the uni press release!?
Re:How abundant and hazardous? (Score:4, Informative)
Note that it is RARELY FOUND IN NATURE, and Zaire is one of the places it is found. It is, of course, incredibly simple to manufacture. Just combine zinc with selenium. The reaction is highly exothermic, so once you add a little heat to get it started, it will power itself to completion.