New Tiny chip creates 'rainbow laser' for faster data speeds

Researchers at Columbia University, led by Michal Lipson, have developed a tiny chip that generates powerful “frequency combs”—light sources composed of dozens of evenly spaced wavelengths. This innovation enables multiple data streams to be transmitted simultaneously through a single optical fiber, addressing a critical bottleneck in current fiber-optic networks that typically rely on single-wavelength lasers. The chip effectively cleans up and stabilizes the chaotic output of a high-power multimode laser diode using a locking mechanism, producing a high-coherence, multi-frequency laser source on a compact silicon photonics platform. This breakthrough has significant implications for modern computing and data centers, especially as artificial intelligence drives an exponential increase in data demand. By replacing bulky, expensive laser systems with a single compact device capable of delivering many clean, high-power channels, the technology promises faster, more energy-efficient data transmission and reduced costs and space requirements. Beyond data communications, the chip’s ability to produce precise frequency combs could also benefit applications in compact spectrometers,