“Integrated space and ground platform for high data transfer density and edge-computing” aims to develop and implement an advanced radio-optical telecommunication platform that leverages innovative technologies to enable high-density information transfer and integrated processing. This platform will be applied across satellite-to-satellite, satellite-to-ground, and ground-to-ground communication links, overcoming the limitations imposed by the finite bandwidth of current systems. Additionally, the project will integrate edge-computing techniques based on high-performance optical neural networks with parallel processing capabilities.
At the core of this initiative are cutting-edge technologies, protected by three international patents, developed at the Physics Department of the University of Milan and the Interdisciplinary Center for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (CIMAINA). These technologies utilize a fundamental property of electromagnetic radiation known as Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM), a concept formalized in the late 20th century, which led to the emergence of Singular Optics as a distinct field of study.
The ability to exploit OAM introduces a significant advantage in telecommunications, as it provides an additional degree of freedom—referred to as the topological charge—which fundamentally differs from other properties of electromagnetic waves. Unlike the polarization states of light, which are limited to a finite number of configurations, the topological charge can assume an infinite range of integer values, effectively multiplying the number of channels available within the same frequency band. This makes OAM-based radiation particularly well-suited for high-density data transmission, significantly increasing communication capacity.
However, traditional methods for detecting OAM states require the entire radiation beam to be captured by the receiver, which is impractical due to the natural divergence of light over long distances. As a result, at extended ranges, the beam’s transverse dimensions exceed the receiver’s aperture, limiting its usability. The innovative approach of this project overcomes this constraint by employing local interferometric detection techniques, enabling the decoding of OAM-encoded information using only a small portion of the beam. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities in the field of telecommunications, allowing for long-range, high-efficiency data transfer with unprecedented information densities.
Beyond enhancing data transmission, the project also integrates optical neural networks to revolutionize computational efficiency. Researchers at the Department of Physics and CIMAINA have demonstrated that optical signals can be processed using Boolean algebra rules, but with unconventional approaches that drastically improve processing speed and computational power. High-definition pattern recognition has already been successfully achieved in proof-of-concept experiments, utilizing an advanced neural network model called the receptron a novel generalization of the perceptron.
This optical computing system relies on coherent light diffusion through an irregular scatterer, generating complex random patterns. When illuminated by multiple coherent beams, the resulting speckle field exhibits nonlinear properties that effectively implement an optical neural network. By modulating the intensities of these incident beams using ON/OFF keying, the system encodes digital inputs, while thresholding processes applied to the speckle field determine the outputs. This all-optical approach enables the implementation of over one million fundamental logic gates in initial experiments. The project will further develop edge-computing solutions based on this technology, allowing for real-time classification, recognition, and selection of relevant data before transmission—optimizing satellite and terrestrial communication networks.
The project is structured into three key phases, aimed at creating functional prototypes that seamlessly integrate optical and radio technologies for high-density telecommunications and optical neural networks for advanced data processing. These actions are aligned with future market demands and will establish a new paradigm in information management:
1. Development of a Free-Space Optical Communication System utilizing optical vortices for high-density data transfer in satellite-to-satellite communications.
2. Implementation of Edge-Computing Technologies through optical artificial neural networks, enabling real-time classification, recognition, and selection of relevant information.
3. Deployment of a Free-Space Radio Communication System, also leveraging optical vortices, for high-density data transfer in satellite-to-ground and ground-to-ground links.
By integrating these technologies into a unified system, the project will pioneer a next-generation communication framework that enhances data transmission efficiency, expands bandwidth capacity, and introduces intelligent, decentralized computing—reshaping the future of telecommunication networks.