Microwave Antennas and Waveguides in Photonic Crystals. We propose to design a revolutionary new class of microwave antennas and antenna arrays in photonic crystals, which can shield, localise and guide electromagnetic radiation in a dielectric environment. This design is completely devoid of metal, thereby eliminating skin-effect losses that are the dominant limitation for planar antenna arrays at upper microwave (millimetre-wave) frequencies. Our new design will achieve high radiation efficie ....Microwave Antennas and Waveguides in Photonic Crystals. We propose to design a revolutionary new class of microwave antennas and antenna arrays in photonic crystals, which can shield, localise and guide electromagnetic radiation in a dielectric environment. This design is completely devoid of metal, thereby eliminating skin-effect losses that are the dominant limitation for planar antenna arrays at upper microwave (millimetre-wave) frequencies. Our new design will achieve high radiation efficiencies and antenna gains not possible with existing planar technology, thereby enabling new applications of planar antenna arrays, for example to radio astronomy, as well as greatly improving existing applications.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453911
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,529.00
Summary
Microwave Antenna Testing Facility for Far-Field and Spherical Near-Field Measurements. The proposed facility is for testing broad-beam microwave antennas (1 GHz - 18 GHz), designed and developed by collaborators for several research and commercial projects. These antennas are important in telecommunications, defence and biomedical applications. While facilitating timely pattern measurements of antenna prototypes, it will open new opportunities in antenna experimentation. This facility will enha ....Microwave Antenna Testing Facility for Far-Field and Spherical Near-Field Measurements. The proposed facility is for testing broad-beam microwave antennas (1 GHz - 18 GHz), designed and developed by collaborators for several research and commercial projects. These antennas are important in telecommunications, defence and biomedical applications. While facilitating timely pattern measurements of antenna prototypes, it will open new opportunities in antenna experimentation. This facility will enhance collaborators' highly acclaimed theoretical research by providing experimental results for theory validation. Near-field patterns available from the facility will advance our knowledge on complicated antennas. This will generate researchers skilled in state-of-the art antenna measurements, and will help develop competitive Australian industries in this frontier technology.Read moreRead less
Characterisation, development and application of novel Ion Beam technology (IBT) to enhance the optical thin film manufacturing process. Manufacture of optical thin film coatings is a difficult and generally inefficient process undertaken within a vacuum chamber. There are many variables which are not easily controlled nor understood in these complex thermodynamic environments. This project aims to advance core knowledge in three critical areas namely an improved understanding of ion beam phy ....Characterisation, development and application of novel Ion Beam technology (IBT) to enhance the optical thin film manufacturing process. Manufacture of optical thin film coatings is a difficult and generally inefficient process undertaken within a vacuum chamber. There are many variables which are not easily controlled nor understood in these complex thermodynamic environments. This project aims to advance core knowledge in three critical areas namely an improved understanding of ion beam physics, new knowledge of the thermodynamic environment used in physical vapour deposition of thin films and new knowedge in the application of Ion beam Technology to optical thin film growth and characteristics.
This project is significant, developing core knowledge and understanding with potential to lead to process efficiency gains, improved optical film characteristics and accessing new areas of research (rf/photoic devices). This project will advance the current state of art in the field of Ion Beam Technology and Ion Beam assisted physical vapour deposition.
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Photonic Crystal Signal Processing and Antenna Technologies. The information society in which we live requires increasingly high bandwidth, low cost communications. This project addresses two critically important technologies needed to meet these demands: signal processing devices and antennas. These devices will be designed using three-dimensional photonic crystals, which provide excellent possibilities for low-cost, highly integrated photonic circuits. Working prototypes will be built at micro ....Photonic Crystal Signal Processing and Antenna Technologies. The information society in which we live requires increasingly high bandwidth, low cost communications. This project addresses two critically important technologies needed to meet these demands: signal processing devices and antennas. These devices will be designed using three-dimensional photonic crystals, which provide excellent possibilities for low-cost, highly integrated photonic circuits. Working prototypes will be built at microwave frequencies, but due to the scalability of electromagnetic theory these results are also valid in the optical domain. The outcomes of this project will be accurate theoretical models and empirical tests for new technologies that satisfy the future needs of the information society.Read moreRead less
Polar Cap Region Boundary Dynamics. Geomagnetic storms have the potential to severely impair critical technology infrastructure. Consequences of strong geomagnetic activity can include power failures, pipeline corrosion, satellite failures, inaccurate GPS positioning and radio navigation. Knowledge of how, where and under which conditions this activity occurs is therefore crucial. The primary aim of this project is to extend our knowledge of the mechanisms by which this activity occurs. This wor ....Polar Cap Region Boundary Dynamics. Geomagnetic storms have the potential to severely impair critical technology infrastructure. Consequences of strong geomagnetic activity can include power failures, pipeline corrosion, satellite failures, inaccurate GPS positioning and radio navigation. Knowledge of how, where and under which conditions this activity occurs is therefore crucial. The primary aim of this project is to extend our knowledge of the mechanisms by which this activity occurs. This work will consolidate Australia's international space profile and provide excellent training in this field, helping Australia's future technology development.Read moreRead less
New regularisation techniques in electromagnetic diffraction from cavities and related complex scatterers. Modern technology, such as radar and other imaging devices, exploits the information carried by electromagnetic waves. New technology depends centrally upon advances in the mathematics of waves to give precise, reliable and effective means of predicting how objects capture and re-radiate wave energy in the scattering environment. This project aims to develop a new mathematical approach to w ....New regularisation techniques in electromagnetic diffraction from cavities and related complex scatterers. Modern technology, such as radar and other imaging devices, exploits the information carried by electromagnetic waves. New technology depends centrally upon advances in the mathematics of waves to give precise, reliable and effective means of predicting how objects capture and re-radiate wave energy in the scattering environment. This project aims to develop a new mathematical approach to wave scattering by objects with complex scattering mechanisms, as typified by cavity structures. This new formulation is obtained by a process of analytical regularisation of the equations describing the scattering process. It generates algorithms more reliable and computationally accurate than current codes.
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Electrodynamics of the High Latitude Ionosphere. Electrical power (~10^12 W on average), incident over the high latitude ionospheres drives auroral displays, causes magnetic disturbances and other space weather effects over the globe, including Australia. This project uses Iridium, a US$6 billion, commercial satellite constellation, to study energy deposition into the ionosphere from near-Earth space. The Iridium data is not public domain. This project provides data access, representing a signif ....Electrodynamics of the High Latitude Ionosphere. Electrical power (~10^12 W on average), incident over the high latitude ionospheres drives auroral displays, causes magnetic disturbances and other space weather effects over the globe, including Australia. This project uses Iridium, a US$6 billion, commercial satellite constellation, to study energy deposition into the ionosphere from near-Earth space. The Iridium data is not public domain. This project provides data access, representing a significant cost-effective way for Australia to participate in observational space science. Australian postgraduate training is an integral part of the project, providing international level access and interpretation of scientific satellite and over the horizon radar network data.Read moreRead less
Light Emission and Localization in Photonic Clusters and Random Lasers. Recent experimental advances have exhibited surprising optical properties of artificial and natural systems structured on the scale of the wavelength of light. We will model numerically such systems, providing insights into the way radiation from atoms placed in them can be changed, light scattering can lead to lasers without mirrors, their fine structure can result in colours which never fade, and light can be localized or ....Light Emission and Localization in Photonic Clusters and Random Lasers. Recent experimental advances have exhibited surprising optical properties of artificial and natural systems structured on the scale of the wavelength of light. We will model numerically such systems, providing insights into the way radiation from atoms placed in them can be changed, light scattering can lead to lasers without mirrors, their fine structure can result in colours which never fade, and light can be localized or trapped in three dimensions.Read moreRead less
ARROW - the route to better Photonic Crystal Fibres. The Frontier Technology based on Photonic crystal fibres (PCFs) will be a vital component of next generation photonic networks and devices. Australia is among the 5 leading nations in PCF research. However we are now at a pivotal stage in the development of PCFs: their production is close to maturity, and it is now up to PCF designers to make the difference. The proposed project will provide the Australian scientific community as well as Austr ....ARROW - the route to better Photonic Crystal Fibres. The Frontier Technology based on Photonic crystal fibres (PCFs) will be a vital component of next generation photonic networks and devices. Australia is among the 5 leading nations in PCF research. However we are now at a pivotal stage in the development of PCFs: their production is close to maturity, and it is now up to PCF designers to make the difference. The proposed project will provide the Australian scientific community as well as Australian photonics companies with advanced PCF designing capabilities, giving Australia an opportunity to take a leading position in PCF development and commercialisation. Read moreRead less