Fujitsu's quantum dot laser fires data at 25Gbps, not just for show
By Sean Hollister 
posted May 21st 2010 6:50AM
posted May 21st 2010 6:50AM
Fujitsu just announced what's reportedly the world's first quantum dot laser capable of 25 gigabits per second of data transmission. Go on -- there's no need to hold your applause. Now, we've seen lasers beam packets at 1.2 terabits per second over miles of open ground, and up to 15.5Tbps through a fat optical pipe, so why would a measly 25Gbps attract our attention? Only because we hear that the IEEE is hoping to create a 100Gbps ethernet standard by 2010 (that's now!) and four of Fujitsu's new nanocrystal lasers bundled together just so happen to fulfill that requirement. It also doesn't hurt that the company's quantum dot solution reportedly uses less electricity than the competition, and that Fujitsu has a spin-off firm -- QD Laser -- champing at the bit to commercialize the technology. All in all, this tech seems like it might actually take off... assuming early adopters are more successful than major corporations at deploying the requisite fiber. Either that, or we'll just enjoy some seriously speedy displays and external drives, both of which sound downright delightful in their own right.
Ermmm, I know I'm missing something but doesn't laser require a line of site, and isn't it, um, bright?
@Valicore I think that optical fibre is used because of this. As long as bends don't exceed the critical angle, the light effectively bounces along the fibre until it reaches the other end. This is how TOSLINK optical audio cables and USB 3.0 work, for example. As far as I know, this would work fine with lasers as well as with other light sources. Of course, I could be wrong.
@Valicore
Lasers are channeled through fiber optic lines.
Lasers are not always visible.
@Locust
& here I thought lasers were carried by sharks.
damn i knew i shouldnt have bought this usb mobo so soon
usb 3** damnit engadget comment system
@Punisher Plum
UGH. I GIVE UP.
so how does data transmit by laser?? Is it encrypted in the laser?
@FuturismRave You pulse the laser - effectively, you switch it on and off thousands of times a second. Each pulse is a binary digit - a bit. It's just a binary signal. The exacty protocol or encoding used will depend upon it's ultimate applications.
@MindStrider *Ugh. "Exact."
@MindStrider So this new nanocrystal laser can fire at higher speeds i presume?
I'MMAH FIRING MAH LAZOR!
...Someone had to say it.
i get the "dot" thing, even tho' that's kinda the nature of lasers, but what's with the "quantum" part? is the laser both on and off at the same time during some of the transmission?
@mrqs
tho' upon further thought, i suppose "quantum" is also in the nature of lasers, what with the whole photon thing
Err no Intel already have their technology design for Light Peak and this is years from a commercial application.
@petebob796
So is lightpeak. There aren't even chipsets available to OEMs to actually build lightpeak end devices or host adapters. I can see it now, there will be like 10 different competing optical standards in the next few years for high bandwidth connectivity...I just really hope intel doesn't win...they are douches that always screw over their customers.
Pew, pew pew pew! Ooooh, torrent's done!
@bureX lolololol, made me fart it was so funny
But, yeah... 100gbps= 12GB a sec! 1080p full blu-ray in a sec! now cloud don't seem so silly... just greedy :)
What I have never got is why they done use frequency modulation in the laser. 1 Byte = 8 bits = 256 values. why not have a laser than can have its frequency modified to one of 256 frequencies. This would mean that a single pulse, which would normally only transmit a single bit, could now transmit an entire byte and thus speeding up the transfer rate by 8 times without having to speed up the switching equipment.
@Tim Brown
Well, you see, on other side of optical fiber there's an optical sensor (photodiode), which is trying very hard to recognize and distinguish those 0s and 1s. Yet in a possible situation when it needs to distinguish not 2 types of incoming signal, but as much as 256 - it will be almost impossible to do - there will be too much interference from signal noise. In long-distance networks to overcome this, you'll be forced to used additional amplifiers and regenerators (which are pretty expensive).
@Tim Brown
In addition to that, lots of times other "frequencies" (wavelengths) are used to carry entirely different signals. Sort of like radio, where you can "tune in" to different wavelengths and get completely different data streams
And I'm still stuck with a coaxial cable from the cable company or a pair of rotten copper wires from the phone company. 2010 yihaa!
Bring this to my small town please. :D
Anything containing "Nano", "Crystal" and "Laser" gotta be good.
@palegolas iPod nano, laser cut case, encrusted with swavlaski crystals
@dzeikei
Hahahaha good one! I got teary laughing
Anyone wonder what the cost will be when this comes
out? I certainly do.
Quantum dots for the masses!
But what if Pac-Man eats them all?