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Front-line Researchers
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 Kazuhide Nakajima, Senior Distinguished Researcher, NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories
Abstract
To address the ever-increasing data-transmission capacity, it is necessary to develop technology that can increase such capacity 100 to 1000 times or more in the future. To meet this need, research on multi-core optical fibers is being conducted worldwide. Senior Distinguished Researcher Kazuhide Nakajima has developed multi-core optical fibers with transmission capacity more than 100 times greater than that of current optical fibers and the world’s highest spatial-utilization efficiency and won top honors at a prestigious international conference. We interviewed him about the progress of his research and the attitude of a researcher aiming to achieve world firsts.
Rising Researchers
Feature Articles: Software Technologies in the Data-centric Era
- Software Technologies in the Data-centric Era
Abstract
With the arrival of a data-centric society, where various types of value are created from real-world data, demand for system infrastructure and software-development methods as business evolves has risen to an even greater level. In this article, we introduce various technological challenges and the efforts of NTT laboratories, particularly the NTT Software Innovation Center, in developing an information-processing infrastructure for the data-centric era to meet the requirements of business evolution and support a data-centric society.
- Next-generation Data Hub for Secure and Convenient Data Utilization across Organizational Boundaries
Abstract
In a data-driven society, where balancing both economic development and solving social issues is anticipated, utilizing a variety of data across the boundaries of companies and organizations will be necessary. However, there are many challenges related to the handling of sensitive data and algorithms and acquiring desired data from diverse data sets in different companies and organizations. Data utilization across organization boundaries thus has not been widely carried out. In this article, we introduce our next-generation data hub and its key technologies for addressing these challenges to allow data to be used securely and conveniently across organizations.
- High-resolution Multi-camera Analysis Infrastructure to Support Future Smart Cities
Abstract
In the IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) era, smart cities will be built on a cyber-physical system (CPS) that makes all information in the city valuable and accessible. In this article, we introduce an artificial intelligence (AI) inference infrastructure that can efficiently process high-resolution, multi-camera images to support an urban-scale CPS. This infrastructure is based on the concept of event-driven inferencing to significantly reduce the processing loads and energy consumption of AI-inference processing executed with the infrastructure. The basic techniques of model cascading and inference resource sharing are discussed in the article.
- Test-activity Analysis for Efficient Iterative Testing
Abstract
There is a growing demand for the early release of software while holding down costs. Software testing, which makes up a large portion of overall development costs and is essential to ensuring a certain level of quality in software, can be viewed as the cornerstone of quality, cost, and delivery in the development process. The NTT Software Innovation Center has developed technology that dramatically improves the efficiency of software testing and has made it available as open-source software. In this article, we introduce this technology.
Feature Articles: The Forefront of Nanomechanics Research
- Nanomechanics: Outline and Future Prospects
Abstract
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, which uses the mechanical motion of miniaturized structures artificially fabricated on a chip, has been used in various fields such as mobile communications and Internet-of-Things devices. This article introduces the concepts and future prospects of nanomechanics technology, which further extends the functionalities from MEMS technology, focusing on research activities conducted at NTT laboratories.
- New Method of Chaos Generation by Using Nanomechanical Oscillator
Abstract
Chaos is a naturally observed phenomenon characterized by its irregular and complicated behavior. Although chaos has been long recognized as a topic of academic importance, its implementation in modern technological products and devices remains wanting. However, with advances in security and artificial-intelligence technologies, attempts to use chaotic signals have begun to materialize. In this article, we report on a new simple and versatile chaos-generation method using a nanomechanical oscillator developed by NTT laboratories.
- Control of Elastic Waves Using Phonon Waveguides and Phononic Crystals
Abstract
Sounds and heat are elementary excitations of lattice vibrations called phonons. In contrast to the widespread use of electrons and photons in signal processing devices and communications systems, the use of phonons as information carriers has been extremely limited because a technique to control them has not been developed. This article describes our research on a new platform called electromechanical phononic crystal for improving the on-chip control of phonons.
- Development of an Optomechanical Device with Extremely Low Optical Energy Loss
Abstract
Optomechanical devices have attracted attention as functional devices that add mechanical degrees of freedom to optical devices such as light-emitting ones. Optomechanical devices have mainly been constructed of semiconductor materials that are easy to microprocess, but NTT laboratories are developing optomechanical devices composed of rare-earth materials that have optical properties superior to those of semiconductors. In this article, we introduce research results on an optomechanical device with extremely low optical energy loss, which was achieved using erbium ions with a luminescence lifetime much longer than that of semiconductor materials.
- Highly Sensitive Detection and Control of a Nanowire Mechanical Resonator Using an Optical Microcavity
Abstract
Semiconductor nanowires have a rod-like structure that is too thin to be seen by the naked eye. This fine structure strongly confines photons and electrons, enabling us to use quantum nano-optoelectric properties to control photons and electrons individually. Semiconductor nanowires also function as nanomechanical resonators when their flexural motion is available. To achieve new opto-electro-mechanical hybrid quantum devices, NTT laboratories have developed technology to detect and control nanowire mechanical motion with high sensitivity.
- Fabrication of Suspended Nanowire Mechanical Devices Using Inkjet Technology
Abstract
Semiconductor nanowires are attracting attention as building blocks for next-generation electrical and optical devices. When nanowires are suspended, they function as nanomechanical devices with specific mechanical properties, thus are expected to be applied to high-sensitivity sensors. This article explains how such a nanomechanical device can be easily and efficiently fabricated using inkjet technology while minimizing resource waste.
Regular Articles
- High-speed Tunable Laser Based on Electro-optic Effect for Wavelength Switching
Abstract
We developed a high-speed tunable laser, the lasing wavelength of which is tuned by the electro-optic (EO) effect of a semiconductor multi-quantum well. The laser exhibited a tuning range of 35 nm (full C-band), which is the world’s first of an electro-optically tunable laser. Thanks to the low-thermal generation and high-speed response of the EO effect, we also achieved less-than-30-mW tuning-power dissipation and sub-nanosecond wavelength switching. The laser also showed a linewidth of less than 350 kHz, which is acceptable for conventional digital coherent systems. We also demonstrated unprecedented high-speed wavelength switching for 128-Gbit/s coherent signals with this laser, which will contribute to the All-Photonics Network.
Global Standardization Activities
Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies
- Development of Loss-evaluation Tool for Efficient Characterization of Optical Fiber Cables
Abstract
In conjunction with the spread of the Internet, optical fiber cables have been deployed across Japan to provide a wide variety of Internet protocol services. Since optical fiber cables are installed in various environments, their transmission loss may vary due to stresses such as unintended bending, vibrations caused by passing cars and wind, and aging caused by environmental conditions. Generally, transmission loss in optical fiber cables is evaluated using an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR); however, to evaluate the condition of optical fiber cables from the data acquired for each fiber, a certain amount of knowledge and experience has been required. Therefore, NTT EAST Technical Assistance and Support Center has been developing a tool that makes it possible to easily evaluate the loss in optical fiber cables from the OTDR measurement data. This article introduces our developed loss-evaluation tool and its functions. This is the sixty-ninth article in a series on telecommunication technologies.
External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings
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