Prelims: Current events of National and International importance| Science & Technology
Why in News?
Researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)—an autonomous institute under India's Department of Science and Technology—have developed a breakthrough silicon chip designed for terahertz (THz) 6G communication.
- Data Transmission Speed– Reaches up to 100 Gbit/s, paving the way for ultra-high-speed wireless connections.
- Topological Photonics Design– Uses a silicon photonic crystal with triangular holes arranged in a graphene-like honeycomb lattice. This structure guides terahertz waves along specific boundaries, making them resistant to certain types of backscattering.
- Low Signal Loss– Passing through a single engineered barrier results in only 1–2% signal loss, while two consecutive barriers result in about 2–3% loss—vastly outperforming traditional, non-topological waveguides.
- CMOS Compatibility– Fabricated on high-resistivity silicon, making the chips compatible with standard semiconductor manufacturing processes.
- Future Plans– The research team aims to tune these barriers electrically, thermally, or mechanically to redirect signals between different on-demand pathways inside compact circuits.
Reference
PIB| Silicon Chip for Terahertz 6G Communication
