Departing from conventional solid glass cores, the recently engineered optical fibers utilize an air core encircled by a precisely constructed glass microstructure for light propagation. This innovative configuration enhances transmission speeds by 45% and facilitates the transmission of greater data volumes over extended distances before signal amplification becomes necessary.
Petrovich et al. present an account of a microstructured optical waveguide demonstrating unparalleled transmission bandwidth and attenuation. Image provided by Gemini AI.
Telecommunications optical fibers commonly incorporate a solid silica glass architecture, and despite decades of refinement, their inherent signal attenuation has presented a significant limitation.
Consequently, approximately half of the optical signal intensity is diminished after roughly 20 kilometers, necessitating the frequent deployment of optical amplifiers to reinforce signals for long-haul transmissions, such as intercontinental terrestrial or subsea communication links.
The reduction of signal loss can only be effectively achieved within a narrow spectrum of wavelengths, thereby constraining the volume of data transferable and consequently restricting optical communications for many decades.
Francesco Poletti, a researcher from the University of Southampton, along with his associates, has developed novel optical fibers characterized by a hollow air core surrounded by an intricate arrangement of thin silica rings designed to channel light.
During laboratory evaluations of these fibers, the researchers observed an optical loss figure of merely 0.091 decibels per kilometer at a light wavelength frequently employed in optical communication systems.
This advancement enables light signals at appropriate wavelengths to traverse approximately 50% greater distances before requiring signal amplification.
This specific design also affords a significantly wider transmission spectrum (the range of wavelengths where light can propagate with minimal signal degradation and distortion) in comparison to preceding optical fiber designs.
It is conceivable that this novel category of optical fiber could exhibit even more reduced loss levels through the implementation of a larger air core, although further investigation is requisite to substantiate this possibility.
“We maintain a strong conviction that, with progress in production volumes, geometrical uniformity, and a diminished presence of absorptive gases within the core, these new fibers will solidify their position as a fundamental waveguiding technology,” stated the researchers.
“This breakthrough holds the potential to usher in the next significant advancement in data communication technologies.”
Their published work is featured in the esteemed journal Nature Photonics.
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M. Petrovich et al. Broadband optical fibre with an attenuation lower than 0.1 decibel per kilometre. Nat. Photon, published online September 1, 2025; doi: 10.1038/s41566-025-01747-5
