A groundbreaking optical transmission system has been developed that surpasses 1.6 terabits per second in data transfer speeds while maintaining low power consumption, addressing the rising demands of AI data centers.

This innovative system employs self-homodyne coherent (SHC) transmission, which simplifies data decoding and enhances sensitivity, making high-speed data transfer more cost-effective and energy-efficient.

Complementing this, a recent study published in Advanced Photonics introduces a quantum-secured data transmission architecture tailored for AI-driven data centers, aiming to meet increasing data traffic with improved security and energy efficiency.

The system incorporates quantum key distribution (QKD) to generate unbreakable encryption keys based on quantum mechanics, significantly boosting security against future quantum computer attacks.

This approach addresses vulnerabilities posed by quantum computing threats by employing quantum cryptography, ensuring data remains secure against future attacks.

By integrating QKD with classical data transmission, the system provides long-term security, utilizing quantum principles to produce unbreakable encryption keys.

Using multicore fibers, the system can transmit classical data and quantum keys simultaneously within a single fiber, ensuring compatibility with existing fiber-optic infrastructure and minimizing interference.

Laboratory and real-world tests demonstrated the system's ability to transmit 400 gigabits per second per fiber core and generate over 580 secure keys per second across 3.5 kilometers, supporting over 21 petabits of data without errors.

A 24-hour real-world simulation showed the system could handle 2 terabits per second of classical data while generating approximately 583 secure keys per second, encrypting over 21.6 petabits of data with minimal errors, highlighting its robustness and reliability.

This hybrid photonic-quantum system is a critical step toward developing networks capable of supporting the exponential data growth driven by AI, autonomous systems, and cloud computing.

This multicore fiber technology supports multiple channels, facilitating a seamless transition to more secure networks without disrupting current infrastructure.

The architecture offers a scalable, energy-efficient, and highly secure solution capable of supporting the exponential growth of AI applications like autonomous vehicles and large language models.

Overall, this advancement marks a significant step toward ultrahigh-capacity, quantum-secure optical networks designed to meet future data security and transmission needs.