High-brightness wavelength tuneable lasers for quantum science. This project aims to establish the capability to manufacture application-specific semiconductor lasers. The project will use existing facilities in Australia to enhance our world-leading quantum science research, and establish a viable export-dominated high-tech manufacturing business. Semiconductor lasers are a critical enabling technology for many scientific applications, particularly for quantum science including quantum computin ....High-brightness wavelength tuneable lasers for quantum science. This project aims to establish the capability to manufacture application-specific semiconductor lasers. The project will use existing facilities in Australia to enhance our world-leading quantum science research, and establish a viable export-dominated high-tech manufacturing business. Semiconductor lasers are a critical enabling technology for many scientific applications, particularly for quantum science including quantum computing and quantum sensing. This project is expected to enable the establishment of a high-tech manufacturing capability to support Australia's leading role in quantum science, and expand our scientific instrumentation exports to new and rapidly developing applications such as magnetic sensing and imaging at nanoscale, quantum communication and computation.Read moreRead less
Silicon Photonic Platform for Quantum Encryption and Communications. The integrity of a secure communications link can mean the difference between life and death in a defence environment. In the civilian arena, the security of electronic financial transactions is also critical to guard against 'cyber' theft. Encryption of data using unique quantum 'noise' as a key has been proposed as an exceptionally strong approach. Attempts to intercept the key during transmission can easily be detected.
....Silicon Photonic Platform for Quantum Encryption and Communications. The integrity of a secure communications link can mean the difference between life and death in a defence environment. In the civilian arena, the security of electronic financial transactions is also critical to guard against 'cyber' theft. Encryption of data using unique quantum 'noise' as a key has been proposed as an exceptionally strong approach. Attempts to intercept the key during transmission can easily be detected.
Quantum key transmission has been demonstrated but requires impractically expensive, bulky and exotic equipment. This project will explore low-cost, silicon chip based quantum key transfer modules. Our aim is to render quantum encryption as simple as adding an expansion card to a standard computer or portable device.Read moreRead less
Optical Fibre Touch Sensor for Cochlear Implants. The touch sensor will be part of a cochlear implant, which is surgically implanted to provide a sense of hearing for people who are profoundly or severely deaf. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants so far. However, the delicate internal structures of the ear can easily be damaged when the implant is inserted. By helping surgeons to preserve the inner ear, this sensor will help to further improve the hearing abili ....Optical Fibre Touch Sensor for Cochlear Implants. The touch sensor will be part of a cochlear implant, which is surgically implanted to provide a sense of hearing for people who are profoundly or severely deaf. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants so far. However, the delicate internal structures of the ear can easily be damaged when the implant is inserted. By helping surgeons to preserve the inner ear, this sensor will help to further improve the hearing ability of future patients. The 'bionic ear' was invented in Australia and this project will help to ensure the continued success of Australia's world leading implant industry.Read moreRead less
Bright x-ray beams from laser-driven microplasmas. This project aims to develop a new generation of bright, laser-like x-ray sources for laboratory use. X-ray sources underpin key diagnostic techniques in materials science, advancing applications from structural engineering through to ore processing and energy storage. However, the limited brightness of present-day laboratory x-ray sources restricts the utility and range of these diagnostic techniques. This research intends to use intense lasers ....Bright x-ray beams from laser-driven microplasmas. This project aims to develop a new generation of bright, laser-like x-ray sources for laboratory use. X-ray sources underpin key diagnostic techniques in materials science, advancing applications from structural engineering through to ore processing and energy storage. However, the limited brightness of present-day laboratory x-ray sources restricts the utility and range of these diagnostic techniques. This research intends to use intense lasers to create microscopic plasmas and drive high harmonic generation. The high harmonic generation process is already used to create laser-like ultraviolet light. By optimising the characteristics of the plasma medium, the project aims to extend bright high harmonic generation to the x-ray regime.Read moreRead less
A versatile optical wavelength and mode switching device for future telecommunication networks. This project will develop a next generation switching device for future fibre optical communication networks that will divide their information among several modes of specialty fibre. This device will be a key component for allowing network operators to move to these novel mode-multiplexed networks in order to overcome the looming capacity crunch.
Next generation front projection screens. Consumer electronics is a huge international market and home theatre is one of the most rapidly growing sectors. A critical part of the home theatre system is the projection screen, an area of technology that has seen only incremental development over the last fifty years, or so. In this project we will take some advanced design concepts developed at the University of Melbourne for laser technology and adapt them to the development of novel approaches to ....Next generation front projection screens. Consumer electronics is a huge international market and home theatre is one of the most rapidly growing sectors. A critical part of the home theatre system is the projection screen, an area of technology that has seen only incremental development over the last fifty years, or so. In this project we will take some advanced design concepts developed at the University of Melbourne for laser technology and adapt them to the development of novel approaches to improving the brightness and resolution of projection screens. The project will look at the design process and address the manufacturing challenges for novel projection screen technology.Read moreRead less
Nanophotonic metamaterials as anti-counterfeit devices in Australian banknotes. This project will demonstrate the application of novel materials as the basis for next generation security features on banknotes. Such elements play a key role in maintaining the integrity of Australia's currency since they present a significant barrier to counterfeiting.
Nano-optics: Colour matching on-a-chip. Nano-optics: Colour matching on-a-chip. This project aims to develop a small, lightweight and low cost chip for accurate spectral measurements, using recent advances in nano-optics. Optical spectrometers are widely used in science and industry but are large, heavy and expensive. The new chip could enable hand-held devices with performance comparable to large laboratory instruments. It could be revolutionary for colour matching, i.e. determining the colours ....Nano-optics: Colour matching on-a-chip. Nano-optics: Colour matching on-a-chip. This project aims to develop a small, lightweight and low cost chip for accurate spectral measurements, using recent advances in nano-optics. Optical spectrometers are widely used in science and industry but are large, heavy and expensive. The new chip could enable hand-held devices with performance comparable to large laboratory instruments. It could be revolutionary for colour matching, i.e. determining the colours of materials, offering unprecedented accuracy and robustness to illumination conditions given the size, weight and cost of the device. This technology is anticipated to foster the development of new products using the chip; and make Australia a leader in nano-optics research.Read moreRead less