This innovative work by researchers Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Sun Yat-Sen University represents a remarkable step forward in the field of optical communications. To do this, they came up with a novel way to create pseudomagnetic fields. Fake magnetic fields create similar conditions as those found in true magnetic fields. These fields are produced inside nanostructured materials known as photonic crystals. This new approach provides highly-controlled manipulation of the propagation of light at telecommunication wavelengths that can dramatically change how large amounts of data are transmitted.
Their approach puts researchers in total control of how light traverses the material. That breakthrough unlocks exciting new possibilities for improving communication infrastructure. Until now, research has focused on isolated phenomena such as photonic Landau levels. This development is the first step towards a major breakthrough in real-world applications that could more easily fit within existing optical communication infrastructures.
Innovative Device Design
To prove the success of their integrated approach, the scientific team fabricated two devices widely used in integrated optics. The first was a miniaturized S-shaped waveguide bend. With over 80% efficiency, this new device transmits light with great effectiveness. It maintains signal loss to less than 1.83 decibels, proving its ability to deliver negligible loss in real world applications.
The second device they created was a two-channel power splitter, intended to split light into two equal channels. This device got low excess loss and very little imbalance to showcase the power of the new method even more. Both devices’ transmission spectra were meticulously simulated and measured, confirming the researchers’ findings and highlighting the reliability of their approach.
High-Speed Data Transmission
The real world impacts of this study go well past Device Design 101. The team set an amazing new precedent by transmitting the highest-speed data stream ever. They accomplished this at an incredible speed of 140 gigabits per second, while using a common telecommunications modulation format. This accomplishment is a validation that synthetic magnetic fields may be the way to go in steering light on a chip. This groundbreaking discovery set the stage for quicker communication technologies.
This new technique is done in a way that fits like a glove with existing optical communication systems. As such, it would be ripe for making its way into actual practice. By building these pseudomagnetic fields into existing infrastructures, telecommunications companies can instantly and massively increase their data transmission capabilities.
Publication and Future Directions
The groundbreaking research was published in a scientific journal, with the DOI: 10.1117/1.AP.7.6.066001, and was retrieved from phys.org on September 12, 2025. This research provides an important foundation for 3D manipulation of light through artificial means. That creates amazing opportunities for new breakthroughs and advances in optical communications.