Prototype device polarizes light with heat for denser optical signals

Researchers have found a way to speed up components that control light polarization in optical communication and computing. Polarization is a property of light that can carry additional information along with the primary signal, enabling higher data throughput. State-of-the-art components that control polarization in optical circuits have to be physically rotated many times a second, wasting precious time. Instead, this can be achieved by varying the temperature of the material the light passes through.