Fibre-optic communications researcher recognised

Dr Nicolas Fontaine, a researcher at Bell Labs, the research arm of Alcatel-Lucent, has been included in Popular Science magazine’s Brilliant 10 list of top researchers under the age of 35. He was selected based on his work developing novel techniques designed to enable fibre-optic networks to meet the world’s insatiable demand for ultrahigh-speed data services and content.

Dr Fontaine’s research focuses on a technique called Space Division Multiplexing (SDM), which will make it possible to establish multiple, parallel spatial paths in a single strand of optical fibre, multiplying the amount of data the fibre can carry. This technique would be similar to packing multiple superhighways - and all the traffic they carry - into the space taken up by a single superhighway today.

This research is critical to the development of more dynamic, high-capacity optical transport systems and complements Alcatel-Lucent’s recently announced Shift Plan, an industrial repositioning of the company from a telecoms generalist to an IP networking and ultrabroadband specialist. One of the key research and development priorities for the company is around the evolution to advanced IP/optical transport networks that can serve the booming demand for high-bandwidth data services such as high-definition video streaming, next-generation mobile broadband applications and cloud services.

One of Dr Fontaine’s most notable recent achievements was finding a solution to one of the key challenges that must be overcome for SDM to become reality. The specific challenge is to find a way to move optical signals onto and off new SDM fibres in a way that can grow as needed to meet evolving demand, has low signal loss and does not distort the various parallel data streams. Fontaine was able to invent an elegant solution to this problem that meets all of the above requirements. Perhaps even more importantly, the solution lends itself to cost-effective manufacturing by using a flexible technique whereby optical waveguides are written into miniature glass blocks using a high-power laser beam - very similar in spirit to 3D printing.

Jake Ward, editor-in-chief of Popular Science, said: “Popular Science prides itself on revealing the innovations and ideas that are laying today’s groundwork for tomorrow’s breakthroughs, and the Brilliant 10 is one of the most exciting ways we do that. This collection of 10 brilliant young researchers is our chance to honour the most promising work - and the most hardworking people - in science and technology today. This year’s winners are particularly distinguished. One of them has crammed incredible amounts of data into fibre-optic cables, in effect supercharging the internet. Another has developed a way of seeing all the viruses in an ecosystem at once. And another knows how to not just spot other planets that might be habitable - she can tell you what the weather is like on them. I’m proud to welcome them all as members of the 2013 Brilliant 10.”