GFURCO
The Ultrafast Phenomena and Optical Communications Group (GFURCO) was founded in 1975, initially named the Optical Fiber Group, at the Gleb Wataghin Institute of Physics at Unicamp.
Origins and History
The group's emergence is directly linked to Brazilian government projects to implement a national communications system. In 1972, several agreements were established between Telebrás and Brazilian universities, including the Laser Communication Systems Project at Unicamp. In January 1974, a contract was established between Telebrás and Unicamp that included the Optical Fiber Sub-Project. An important historical milestone was reached in April 1976, when the first Brazilian optical fiber was manufactured in IFGW laboratories.
Research Evolution
Starting in the 1980s, the group underwent a significant transformation:
- Shifted focus from national industry studies to more academic research
- Initiated investigations into new technologies such as erbium-doped optical amplifiers
- Expanded into studies with quantum dots and ultrafast phenomena
Notable Projects
GFURCO has been involved in three major projects:
- CePOF (Center for Research in Optics and Photonics)
- Kyatera Project
- FOTONICOM (National Institute of Photonic Science and Technology for Optical Communications)
- IPhD (Integrated Photonic Devices)
Research Areas
The group is mainly dedicated to:
- Optical communications
- Optical fibers
- Optical devices
- Ultrafast phenomena (at femtosecond scale)
- Non-linear optics
- Development of technologies to increase data transmission capacity
Technological Impact
One of the group's main contributions is in developing technologies to increase data transmission capacity in communication networks. The optical fibers developed by the group have a transmission capacity approximately 300 million times greater than conventional copper wires.