Copper-impurity-free Si3N4 photonic integrated circuits reduce thermal absorption and enable robust, deterministic soliton generation.

Researchers are integrating microcombs into optical atomic clocks, bringing us closer to chip-based, ultra-precise GPS for everyday devices.

Acoustic perception is a fairly basic but extraordinary feature in nature, relying on multidimensional signal processing for detection, localization, and recognition. Replicating this capability in compact artificial systems, however, remains a formidable challenge due to limitations in scalability, sensitivity, and integration. Here, imitating the auditory system of insects, we introduce an opto-acoustic perception paradigm using fully-stabilized dual-soliton microcombs. By integrating digitally stabilized on-chip dual-microcombs, silicon optoelectronics and bionic fiber-microphone arrays on a single platform, we achieve parallelized interrogation of over 100 sensors. Leveraging the low-noise, multi-channel coherence of fully-stabilized soliton microcombs, this synergy enables ultra-sensitive detection of 29.3 nPa/Hz1/2, sub centimeter precise localization, real-time tracking and identification for versatile acoustic targets. Bridging silicon photonics, optical fiber sensing and intelligent signal processing in a chiplet microsystem, our scheme delivers out-of-lab deployable capability on autonomous robotics. This work not only deepens the understanding of frequency comb science, but also establishes a concept of dual-comb-driven sensor networks as a scalable foundation for next-generation opto-acoustic intelligence.

Fully connected quantum networks, enabling simultaneous connection between every user, face scalability challenges despite being the most versatile and robust networking architecture. Researchers constructed a large-scale version of this network, guaranteeing user-to-user security even with an untrusted provider, using integrated soliton microcomb and photonic encoding chips.

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A paper published by Swinburne University of Technology shows how a kind of "optical ruler," or frequency comb, can greatly increase bandwidth in today's data-saturated world.

RMIT, Skykraft and Indian researchers are exploring microcombs photonic chips as a low-cost alternative PNT technology.

About the job Job No.: 670172 Location: Clayton campus Employment Type: Full-time Duration: 3-year fixed-term appointment Remuneration: $80,464 - $109,203 pa Level A / $114,951 - $136,505 pa Level B (...

Light: Science & Applications - On-chip solitons are gaining new colors