Cloud computing allows application software and services to be delivered from large server farms in data centers over the Internet. As more and more people use Cloud services, more and more data are created that need to be stored, transmitted and processed. This explosion of data requires larger and larger data centers — as big as 1 square mile.
Traditional semiconductor technologies are approaching their physical limitations. Therefore, innovators must explore new technologies to realize the most ambitious visions of a networked global society. Graphene promises a major step forward in performance for data communications in the area of photonics and optoelectronics. The wonderful optical properties of graphene afford multiple functions of signal emitting, transmitting, modulating, and detection to be realized in one material which are the key components of telecommunications.
Researchers have demonstrated how properties of graphene enable ultra-wide bandwidth communications coupled with low power consumption to radically change the way data is transmitted across the optical communications systems. This could make graphene-integrated devices the key ingredient in the evolution of 5G, the Internet-of-Things (IoT), and Industry 4.0.
“The size of current and future data centers is challenging the fundamental speed limits of today’s fiber optics technology,” said Bill Beifuss, CEO of Carbon Sciences. “The speed of data movement between servers is bottlenecked by these fundamental limitations. By exploiting the natural breakthrough optical and electrical properties of graphene, we plan to develop next generation fiber optics components that are ultrafast, low power and low cost.” Mr. Beifuss concluded, “We believe graphene-based components will unclog the bottlenecks in the Cloud and unleash a global era of high resolution video on demand, high fidelity music streaming, high volume e-commerce and many more Cloud-based services.”
Carbon Sciences Inc have announced its plans to developing graphene-based devices to enable ultrafast fiber optics communication in Cloud computing infrastructure. Researchers are developing Graphene-based fiber optics components, such as photodetectors, fiber lasers , optical switches and processing devices that are expected to unclog the existing bottlenecks and enable ultrafast communication in data centers for Cloud computing. Wolfgang Templ, Alcatel has estimated that commercialization is five to ten years away, and urged researchers to look carefully at early stages of development of the technology, to avoid getting hung up in dead-end directions.
Graphene can also enhance the situational awareness for military, a critical capability in modern warfare which requires threat detection, recognition and identification, during day and night and under all weather and visibility conditions. Night Vision has become essential capability for ground forces in modern warfare as well as for counter terrorist operations. Infrared imaging enables the spotting of targets, intruders and hidden bombs by detecting their heat signatures thereby protecting troops and making the application of force more discriminating. The performance of Night vision devices is constantly being improved while driving down the size, weight and power consumption in order to maintain an edge over adversaries. Graphene based photodetectors are capable of detecting the entire spectrum, from infrared to visible to ultraviolet and in future would lead to ultrasensitive detectors and that too at room temperature.
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