Loughborough University researchers develop microcomb chip for 6G

Researchers at Loughborough University and international collaborators have developed a grain-of-rice-sized photonic chip capable of generating multiple stable millimetre-wave frequencies. The system utilizes a chip-based microresonator to produce a microcomb—a spectrum of precisely separated optical frequencies—which is then converted into high-frequency electromagnetic signals via an antenna.

By combining the microresonator with an optical fibre loop, the team achieved stable microcomb states and the ability to control the relative strength of individual frequencies. This technology could support high-capacity 6G wireless networks by providing greater bandwidth than current low-frequency signals. Beyond telecommunications, the precision of these signals holds potential for quantum timing, navigation, radar systems, spectroscopy, and astronomical instrumentation.