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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346888
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$288,000.00
Summary
3-D Optical Surface Profiler. Establishing a state-of-the-science 3-D optical surface profiler will enable macroscopic, microscopic and nanoscopic profiling of surfaces over a very broad range of research programs including, laser cleaning and surface modification, laser precision microfabrication, surface, materials and device characterisation and optical physics applications. The importance and significance of these projects has already been established by the projects having competitive fundi ....3-D Optical Surface Profiler. Establishing a state-of-the-science 3-D optical surface profiler will enable macroscopic, microscopic and nanoscopic profiling of surfaces over a very broad range of research programs including, laser cleaning and surface modification, laser precision microfabrication, surface, materials and device characterisation and optical physics applications. The importance and significance of these projects has already been established by the projects having competitive funding. The instrument will undoubtedly support many additional research programs. It is similar to an Atomic-Force-Microscope or stylus profilometer but has significant additional capabilites. These include profiling much larger areas at sub-nanometre resolution and the non-contact nature of the technique. These features will enable surface characterisation that can not be achieved by other means.Read moreRead less
Preparation of silica-based thin film materials with large optical nonlinearity. There is currently a lack of advanced thin film materials suitable for fabricating integrated electro-optic devices to use in optical telecommunication. Such materials will be produced, and their application will be developed through this project. The physical mechanism of the marvelous optical nonlinearities of the materials will also be investigated. Thus the achievement of this project will bring great advancemen ....Preparation of silica-based thin film materials with large optical nonlinearity. There is currently a lack of advanced thin film materials suitable for fabricating integrated electro-optic devices to use in optical telecommunication. Such materials will be produced, and their application will be developed through this project. The physical mechanism of the marvelous optical nonlinearities of the materials will also be investigated. Thus the achievement of this project will bring great advancement in both scientific knowledge and technologies for Australia, and provide huge opportunities to boost Australian telecommunication industries, which are developing quickly in recent years.Read moreRead less
Integrated magneto-optic waveguide materials and devices. We aim to develop chalcogenide glass films for fabricating integrated waveguide magneto-optic (MO) devices as a radical alternative to the use of crystalline MO materials that have proven difficult to manufacture in integrated form. Using our ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition (UFPLD) technique we will produce a wide range of chalcogenide glass compositions through combinatorial materials synthesis and assess them for magneto-optic activ ....Integrated magneto-optic waveguide materials and devices. We aim to develop chalcogenide glass films for fabricating integrated waveguide magneto-optic (MO) devices as a radical alternative to the use of crystalline MO materials that have proven difficult to manufacture in integrated form. Using our ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition (UFPLD) technique we will produce a wide range of chalcogenide glass compositions through combinatorial materials synthesis and assess them for magneto-optic activity. UFPLD will also be used to deposit high optical quality films for device prototyping. We will design and fabricate prototype MO components which are essential, but currently unavailable, for use as optical isolators in integrated optics.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL0992016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,064,351.00
Summary
Frontiers of Precision Time and Frequency. Devices for precise frequency and time metrology invented at the University of Western Australia have application in telecommunications, advanced radar, optical to microwave links, frequency and time standards, astronomy, tests of fundamental physics and have attracted worldwide interest. This project will strengthen Australian "know how" and expertise, and place us in a position to participate in current and future space missions. Moreover, this repres ....Frontiers of Precision Time and Frequency. Devices for precise frequency and time metrology invented at the University of Western Australia have application in telecommunications, advanced radar, optical to microwave links, frequency and time standards, astronomy, tests of fundamental physics and have attracted worldwide interest. This project will strengthen Australian "know how" and expertise, and place us in a position to participate in current and future space missions. Moreover, this represents an opportunity for high profile involvement as the only southern hemisphere user of the most accurate space clock ever developed, which will likely involve the order of 30 institutes worldwide. This work necessarily includes collaboration with the world's elite metrological institutes.Read moreRead less
Nano-Engineering of Optical Fibre Fresnel Lenses. It is expected that the development of the Fresnel Lens Fibre will greatly enhance the simplicity with which fibres can be integrated into a variety of systems. An intrinsically focussing fibre will be cheap to produce and have significant size advantages over its competitors, thus giving it an excellent competitive advantage in the market place. Australia is home to a number of companies that would directly benefit from the commercialisation of ....Nano-Engineering of Optical Fibre Fresnel Lenses. It is expected that the development of the Fresnel Lens Fibre will greatly enhance the simplicity with which fibres can be integrated into a variety of systems. An intrinsically focussing fibre will be cheap to produce and have significant size advantages over its competitors, thus giving it an excellent competitive advantage in the market place. Australia is home to a number of companies that would directly benefit from the commercialisation of a Fresnel Lens Fibre. In addition to a range of possible telecommunications applications, the focussing fibre also has applications in spectroscopy, minimally invasive surgical procedures, and especially in the field of photodynamic therapy. Read moreRead less
One Step Pre-forms for Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibre. The pre-form rods this project yields will enable polymer optical fibre technology, just as suitable glass pre-forms enabled today's optical fibre. One-step casting techniques will yield PMMA rods with arrays of internal channels which can be empty, or filled with different clear polymer. Polymer microstructured optical fibre (PMOF) suitable for high bandwidth communications is then produced by drawing. It is urgently needed for local ....One Step Pre-forms for Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibre. The pre-form rods this project yields will enable polymer optical fibre technology, just as suitable glass pre-forms enabled today's optical fibre. One-step casting techniques will yield PMMA rods with arrays of internal channels which can be empty, or filled with different clear polymer. Polymer microstructured optical fibre (PMOF) suitable for high bandwidth communications is then produced by drawing. It is urgently needed for local communication networks in cars and buildings. Solid PMOF channels are new to this project, and should make PMOF easier to deploy. Nanoscale mapping of light transport modes and polymer defects will help validate channel designs.Read moreRead less
Engineered optical fibre device structures for next generation telecommunication systems. The next generation of optical telecommunication networks requires novel photonic compnents that are superior to current devices, and cannot be obtained by incremental improvement. This project will identify novel device architectures and implement these in practical devices. This will ensure that Australia remains at the cutting edge of photonics research, one of the most dynamic and exciting ereas in sc ....Engineered optical fibre device structures for next generation telecommunication systems. The next generation of optical telecommunication networks requires novel photonic compnents that are superior to current devices, and cannot be obtained by incremental improvement. This project will identify novel device architectures and implement these in practical devices. This will ensure that Australia remains at the cutting edge of photonics research, one of the most dynamic and exciting ereas in science and engineering and at the basis of a multibillion dollar industry.Read moreRead less
Design and Experimental Demonstration of Ultrabroadband Silicon Optical Amplifiers. The current success of the electronics industry rests on pillars made from the low cost, high performance and flexibility of silicon compounds. Silicon-based optics provides a new platform for the monolithic integration of optics and electronics. In this project, a multi-disciplinary team consisting of pioneers of nonlinear optics and siliconized photonics build a next-generation broadband silicon optical amplif ....Design and Experimental Demonstration of Ultrabroadband Silicon Optical Amplifiers. The current success of the electronics industry rests on pillars made from the low cost, high performance and flexibility of silicon compounds. Silicon-based optics provides a new platform for the monolithic integration of optics and electronics. In this project, a multi-disciplinary team consisting of pioneers of nonlinear optics and siliconized photonics build a next-generation broadband silicon optical amplifier which can open the door to a new low-power, wide-bandwidth, high-speed and ultra-small optoelectronic devices. The technological advances arising from this project will provide Australia with critical capabilities for future commercial ventures and strengthen Australia's stake in the multi-trillion dollar semiconductor industry.Read moreRead less