Microresonators could bring optical sensors, com

Microresonators could bring optical sensors, communications

(Nanowerk News) Researchers have solved a key obstacle in creating the underlying technology for miniature optical sensors to detect chemicals and biological compounds, high-precision spectroscopy, ultra-stable microwave sources, and optical communications systems that transmit greater volumes of information with better quality.

Dark pulses can be envisioned as a shutter that is normally open to allow light to pass through, but can quickly close to block the light and then open again to turn the light back on. The entire process can be as fast as 1-2 picoseconds, almost 100 times faster than the switching speed of the fastest computer microprocessor now available.
The technology could bring miniature optical sensors to detect and measure chemicals, ultra-precise spectroscopy for laboratory research, and optical communications systems that transmit greater volumes of information with better quality and at lower cost. The microresonators can work not only in the near-infrared range required for optical communications but also in visible and mid-infrared light needed for chemical and biological sensing.

http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news/newsid=41042.php