New Dynamic Dual-Core Optical Fiber Enhances Data Routes on Information Superhighway

摘要

Optical fibers - the backbone of the Internet - carry movies, messages, and music at the speed of light. But for all their speedy efficiency, these ultrathin strands of pristine glass must connect to sluggish signal switches, routers, and buffers in order to transmit data. Hoping to do away with these information speed bumps, a team of researchers has developed a new, dual-core optical fiber that can elegantly perform the same functions just by applying a miniscule amount of mechanical pressure.