A new European initiative, ULTRAPURE, has launched with the goal of achieving 250 Gbit/s data rates using terahertz communications, exceeding current wireless speeds. The consortium of six partners from across Europe will focus on developing a novel photonic platform based on thin-film lithium tantalate (TFLT), combining electro-optic and acousto-optic effects on a single chip to reduce noise and improve stability. This approach aims to overcome limitations in current systems and deliver compact, low-power sources for advanced communications, sensing, and quantum technologies.
Stimulated Brillouin Scattering in Thin-Film Lithium Tantalate
Thin-film lithium tantalate (TFLT) is emerging as a pivotal material for a new generation of photonic integrated circuits, addressing critical limitations in laser source technology that currently hinder advancements in quantum systems and 6G communications. Researchers anticipate that this integration will reduce frequency and intensity noise, enabling ultra-narrow linewidth oscillations across a broad spectrum, from radiofrequency to terahertz and optical domains. The core of the project lies in overcoming the challenges of creating low-power, highly coherent sources; current photonic and electronic systems struggle to deliver the necessary performance for applications demanding precise control of light waves. ULTRAPURE aims to achieve a target data rate exceeding 250 Gbit/s using terahertz (THz) communications, a significant leap beyond existing wireless speeds and a key driver for future 6G networks, as detailed in the initiative’s documentation.
These clocks, designed for stability and reduced size, aim to improve precision timing for applications ranging from satellite navigation to quantum sensing. The consortium believes these capabilities will underpin future smart infrastructures and reduce reliance on vulnerable satellite-based timing systems. The €3 million project, funded by the European Innovation Council, brings together six partners from across Europe to accelerate the transition from fundamental research to real-world deployment.
Compact Atomic Clocks and Ultrapure THz for 6G Networks
The demand for increasingly precise timing and higher bandwidths is driving innovation in photonic technologies, with current systems often hampered by size, energy consumption, and limitations in spectral purity. This approach seeks to deliver sources that are compact, low-power, and highly coherent, surpassing the capabilities of existing photonic and electronic systems. Beyond timing, the project will also focus on generating ultrapure terahertz (THz) sources, with the goal of enabling ultra-high-speed wireless communications exceeding 250 Gbit/s. The innovations stemming from ULTRAPURE are anticipated to underpin future smart infrastructures, supporting resilient communication technologies and GNSS-independent synchronization for critical systems. These advancements will improve the functionality of smart cities and reduce reliance on potentially vulnerable satellite-based timing systems, enhancing overall system security and reliability.
The realisation of many next generation applications such as advanced communications, sensing and quantum systems is hampered by an absence of compact and energy-efficient laser sources with complex waveforms capable of generating ultra-pure oscillations with high stability and spectral purity.
