A team of researchers from the University of Vienna in Austria and the Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information have successfully transmitted twisted beams of light over a three kilometer distance using a green laser.

They used a green laser to send beams of light through a lens atop a radar tower at the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics in Vienna, the capital of Austria.

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These twisted beams are called "orbital angular momentum" or OAM. According to the researchers, the act of twisting a particular wavelength of light into a shape increases the number of channels that can be used for data communication.

Researchers transmitted 16 different configurations over a three kilometer distance. Each configuration serves as a separate and individual channel for data transmission.

Previous studies show the method may allow transmission of up to 2.5 terabits of data per second which, according to official reports, is equivalent to 66 DVDs transmitted through fiber optics.

"We have shown for the first time that information can be encoded onto twisted light and sent through a 3 km intra-city link with strong turbulences." said Mario Krenn, co-author of the experiment.

"The OAM of light is theoretically unbounded, meaning that one has, in theory, an unlimited amount of different distinguishable states in which light can be encoded." Krenn added.

"It is envisaged that this additional degree of freedom could significantly increase data-rates in classical communication."

Fiber optics has already been used by engineers to send data over long distances using light. Researchers said fiber optics isn't always appropriate for transmitting data. Fiber optics can't be used for Earth to satellite transmissions, for example.

They said the OAM of light can also be used in quantum communication to protect information being transmitted.

TagsUniversity of Vienna, Austria, Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Beam, Light, OAM, Orbital Angular Momentum, Twisted Beams, Central Institute of Meteorology and Geodynamics, DVDs, Quantum Communication