Microfabrication of integrated silicon optical cross-switches interfaced with silica optical waveguides. Project aims to fabricate novel silicon based optical switches in the form of cantilevered mirrors integrated to interface with silica optical waveguides integrated collimation lens. Significantly, it paves the way for low cost integration of optical switches with array waveguides for an all-optical dynamically reconfigurable dense wavelength division multiplexing network used in modern broad ....Microfabrication of integrated silicon optical cross-switches interfaced with silica optical waveguides. Project aims to fabricate novel silicon based optical switches in the form of cantilevered mirrors integrated to interface with silica optical waveguides integrated collimation lens. Significantly, it paves the way for low cost integration of optical switches with array waveguides for an all-optical dynamically reconfigurable dense wavelength division multiplexing network used in modern broadband telecommunication systems. International market demand for such devises is enormous. Expected outcomes include the development of arrays of low loss 2x2 integrated optical waveguide cross-switches prototypes, securing the intellectual property rights and disseminating the work internationally.Read moreRead less
Microfibre photonics: function densification on a wavelength scale. The project will contribute to Australia's nanoscale device research and nanomanufacturing development. The project will create microfibre fabrication technologies for the creation of new optical systems of miniature proportions that will be used for cell illumination, for the creation of sensors for detection in small environments and as light tools for fundamental experiments in physics. Specialist fabrication methods will be ....Microfibre photonics: function densification on a wavelength scale. The project will contribute to Australia's nanoscale device research and nanomanufacturing development. The project will create microfibre fabrication technologies for the creation of new optical systems of miniature proportions that will be used for cell illumination, for the creation of sensors for detection in small environments and as light tools for fundamental experiments in physics. Specialist fabrication methods will be developed that will add to the nation's skill base. The outcomes of the project will enhance Australia's knowledge capacity, research capability and will contribute significantly to each of the National Research Priorities.Read moreRead less
Low energy all-optical logic gates with improved cascadability and fan-out for future optical communications and signal processing systems. All-optical logic processing is the key to overcoming electronic bottlenecks in high-speed communication networks as single-channel speeds exceed electronic capabilities. This research will build off and extend Australia's world leading specialty fibre and fibre device capabilities and place Australia at the forefront in the international all-optical digital ....Low energy all-optical logic gates with improved cascadability and fan-out for future optical communications and signal processing systems. All-optical logic processing is the key to overcoming electronic bottlenecks in high-speed communication networks as single-channel speeds exceed electronic capabilities. This research will build off and extend Australia's world leading specialty fibre and fibre device capabilities and place Australia at the forefront in the international all-optical digital information-processing race. High quality research publications will enhance Australia's strong research reputation in photonics and advanced materials and promote international collaboration. New optical processing capabilities will benefit other application areas such as sensing and security.Read moreRead less
Passively switched mid-infrared fibre lasers using saturable absorbers placed internally or externally to the geometry of the fibre. This project will create new pulsed mid-infrared fibre lasers based on original and recently developed passive switching techniques. An original class of fibre laser systems will be shown that is based on the internal placement of saturable absorbers within the optical fibre itself. A configuration such as this will enable the production of very simple pulsed laser ....Passively switched mid-infrared fibre lasers using saturable absorbers placed internally or externally to the geometry of the fibre. This project will create new pulsed mid-infrared fibre lasers based on original and recently developed passive switching techniques. An original class of fibre laser systems will be shown that is based on the internal placement of saturable absorbers within the optical fibre itself. A configuration such as this will enable the production of very simple pulsed laser systems of high efficiency and potentially high power. This will lead into the development of practical pulsed oscillator systems the output of which can be used directly or optically amplified for applications requiring high power.Read moreRead less
Silk Fibroin Optofluidic Chips. Unlike any other material, even any other biologically occurring material, silk is unique in being very transparent, able to be shaped on a very small scale and can keep natural chemicals like proteins and enzymes active. This project will use silk to make optical devices and sensors. Optics made from silk will have all these properties, which means that they can be used as sensors and devices in biochemistry applications that have never been possible before. Thes ....Silk Fibroin Optofluidic Chips. Unlike any other material, even any other biologically occurring material, silk is unique in being very transparent, able to be shaped on a very small scale and can keep natural chemicals like proteins and enzymes active. This project will use silk to make optical devices and sensors. Optics made from silk will have all these properties, which means that they can be used as sensors and devices in biochemistry applications that have never been possible before. These cost-effective devices will have the potential to enhance healthcare, emergency medicine and assist early medical diagnosis.Read moreRead less
Manipulation and Shaping of Light in the Far-Field using Advanced Fresnel Fibres. This project will focus on developing and understanding further the recent invention of the Fresnel fibre, which is designed to overcome diffraction from the end of an optical fibre. More sophisticated designs and combinations will allow arbitrary shaping of the optical field exiting an optical fibre for numerous applications. The physical basis for such phenomena to be realised is the efficient degree of coherent ....Manipulation and Shaping of Light in the Far-Field using Advanced Fresnel Fibres. This project will focus on developing and understanding further the recent invention of the Fresnel fibre, which is designed to overcome diffraction from the end of an optical fibre. More sophisticated designs and combinations will allow arbitrary shaping of the optical field exiting an optical fibre for numerous applications. The physical basis for such phenomena to be realised is the efficient degree of coherent scattering possible in air-material fibre such as air-silica photonic crystal fibres. In conjunction advanced characterisation techniques will be developed.Read moreRead less
Light-matter interactions in microstructured optical waveguides for nonlinear optical signal processing. The challenge of conceiving and constructing the necessary components and devices for the next generation of lightwave telecommunications systems is a profound one. This issue is urgent as the current operating principles of switches, filters and sources and other devices simply do not allow for the upgrade to the extremely high data transmission speeds that will be required. Using glass opti ....Light-matter interactions in microstructured optical waveguides for nonlinear optical signal processing. The challenge of conceiving and constructing the necessary components and devices for the next generation of lightwave telecommunications systems is a profound one. This issue is urgent as the current operating principles of switches, filters and sources and other devices simply do not allow for the upgrade to the extremely high data transmission speeds that will be required. Using glass optical fibres as the starting point, we will devise, demonstrate and analyze these novel components, leveraging microstructured optical fibre technology and novel fabrication techniques, which are among the most recent developments in optical fibre research.
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Towards Photonic and Electronic Devices for High Indium Content Nitride Semiconductors. Nitride semiconductors are widely used in mobile phone and lighting applications. The Low Temperature Nitride Semiconductor Group at Macquarie University have specialized in improving the quality of these materials using growth techniques that will allow gallium nitride to become commercially viable for room lighting. In collaboration with researchers in Europe we intend to develop and exploit the next genera ....Towards Photonic and Electronic Devices for High Indium Content Nitride Semiconductors. Nitride semiconductors are widely used in mobile phone and lighting applications. The Low Temperature Nitride Semiconductor Group at Macquarie University have specialized in improving the quality of these materials using growth techniques that will allow gallium nitride to become commercially viable for room lighting. In collaboration with researchers in Europe we intend to develop and exploit the next generation of nitride materials for high-speed mobile communications and photonic applications. The team assembled for this project have excellent credentials in the development of these materials and, importantly, an excellent ability to probe and understand material phenomena.Read moreRead less
Hypersensitisation and Patterned Photosensitivity in Glass. Recent developments involving holographically patterned photosensitivity in glass-based optical waveguides developed by our group can be extended to fabricate complex two-dimensional structures including planar waveguide photonic bandgap devices for applications in telecommunications, sensing and signal processing. These will include novel grating-array based 2-D DFB lasers and filters in rare-earth doped planar waveguides. Novel etchin ....Hypersensitisation and Patterned Photosensitivity in Glass. Recent developments involving holographically patterned photosensitivity in glass-based optical waveguides developed by our group can be extended to fabricate complex two-dimensional structures including planar waveguide photonic bandgap devices for applications in telecommunications, sensing and signal processing. These will include novel grating-array based 2-D DFB lasers and filters in rare-earth doped planar waveguides. Novel etching techniques to be used to enhance index contrast, as well as to characterise such devices, will be developed based on our recent observation of hydrogen-enhanced etching of glass. Such methods could potentially be applicable to not only photonic technologies but also semiconductor lithography of oxides.Read moreRead less
Fabrication and design of spun and chiral microstructured fibres. Novel optical fibre devices and especially sensors have established and growing markets in sectors as diverse as medical, aerospace & defence, energy, scientific and process control. This project will build on our existing success in developing microstructured polymer optical fibres (mPOF), and create major new opportunities, both in fundamental science and in applications that could be commercialised. Australia is currently leadi ....Fabrication and design of spun and chiral microstructured fibres. Novel optical fibre devices and especially sensors have established and growing markets in sectors as diverse as medical, aerospace & defence, energy, scientific and process control. This project will build on our existing success in developing microstructured polymer optical fibres (mPOF), and create major new opportunities, both in fundamental science and in applications that could be commercialised. Australia is currently leading the world in mPOF. This project builds on these past successes but moves beyond telecommunications into biophotonics with potential applications in magnetic field sensors, biological sensors, optical tweezers, polarisation emulators and new types of linear and nonlinear modes. Read moreRead less