19-21 September 2023
Supercharged wireless connections
Physics at Work aims to show 14-16 year olds the variety of careers to which study in Physics can lead and the range of practical problems that physics can be used to solve.
Our exhibit: See a wireless link being used to transmit music
Has your phone or laptop ever had problems buffering and being slow to download too many things? We are working on a new type of technology that could make this more than a 100 times faster. To do this we use higher frequency waves, terahertz waves. They allow a higher bandwidth but they have some drawbacks…
What physics are used?
The physics that this exhibit uses focuses on the transmission of electromagnetic waves to transmit data wirelessly. To do this we use many different semiconductor components such as lasers, photodiodes, amplifiers and modulators. These are all items that are used in your home Wi-Fi.
Why is it useful?
It allows high-speed data rates at short distances, such as wireless monitors. It can also be used in space to allow satellites to communicate quickly – allowing faster internet speeds in remote areas.