A tiny chip that produces a precisely organized “rainbow” of light could help enable faster, higher-capacity 6G communications and more precise timing for quantum technologies.

A microchip about the size of a grain of rice can generate a carefully ordered spectrum of light and convert it into multiple high-frequency electromagnetic signals called millimeter waves. Physicists at Loughborough University and their international collaborators say the approach could eventually support technologies that require large amounts of bandwidth and exceptionally precise signals.

Millimeter waves are especially attractive for future communications because they provide far more bandwidth, effectively creating additional capacity for transmitting data. The challenge has been producing these frequencies with the precision and stability required for advanced systems.