Scientists built a 'rainbow on a chip' that could help 6G carry more signals

​Scientists at Loughborough University and an international research team have built a tiny “rainbow on a chip” that can generate multiple precisely spaced frequencies of light at the same time. The microchip-based system could eventually help future 6G networks carry more signals simultaneously by converting the optical frequencies into millimetre waves.​The “rainbow” comparison comes from the way a microcomb produces many different frequencies of light. Unlike a visible rainbow, where the colours blend, the frequencies in a microcomb are separated and precisely spaced like the teeth of a comb. The light produced by the system is invisible to the human eye.​Microcomb could create multiple 6G channels​The researchers demonstrated a system that produces a series of stable, precisely spaced optical frequencies that can be converted into high-frequency electromagnetic signals known as millimetre waves.​Millimetre waves are being studied for future communications because they can provide more bandwidth for transmitting data.