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Nature Photonics 2, 12–13 (1 January 2008) | doi:10.1038/nphoton.2007.261

Nonlinear Optics: Nanoscale signal regeneration

Ozdal Boyraz

The regeneration of weak and distorted optical signals is vital in long-haul optical communication systems. Now scientists at Cornell University have developed an all-optical scheme that performs the task and is small enough to fit on a chip. The maximum reach of an optical communication link is ultimately limited by signal distortion and the accumulation of noise. Although optical amplifiers located periodically along the link can extend transmission distances by boosting signal power, they unfortunately also add optical noise, which degrades the signal to noise ratio.