10,000x Smaller: Tiny Nano-Antenna Could Revolutionize Wireless Tech
By levitating nanoparticles with laser beams, scientists have built an antenna 10,000 times smaller than typical low-frequency receivers.
This innovation sidesteps the usual size limitations, enabling strong signal reception despite its microscopic dimensions. With high tunability and real-world transmission tests proving its viability, the nano-antenna could transform communications in extreme environments.
A Tiny Antenna with Big Potential
A research team led by Professor Huizhu Hu from Zhejiang University and Zhejiang Lab has developed an innovative low-frequency receiving antenna using optically levitated nanoparticles. This breakthrough has resulted in an antenna that is nearly 10,000 times smaller than traditional designs. Their findings, published in PhotoniX on January 29, 2025, address major challenges in miniaturizing antennas for critical low-frequency (LF) applications, including underwater communication, underground sensing, and ionospheric waveguides.