Creation of New Precision Optical and Microwave Technologies and their Application to Testing the Fundamental of Physics. Clocks and oscillators are crucial for the highest precision scientific and industrial measurements and are the foundation of modern communications technology. Recent developments in laser-cooled optical clocks promise a wave of revolutionary changes to global navigation, timekeeping and precision measurement. Our group has already achieved world's-best performance in this f ....Creation of New Precision Optical and Microwave Technologies and their Application to Testing the Fundamental of Physics. Clocks and oscillators are crucial for the highest precision scientific and industrial measurements and are the foundation of modern communications technology. Recent developments in laser-cooled optical clocks promise a wave of revolutionary changes to global navigation, timekeeping and precision measurement. Our group has already achieved world's-best performance in this field. To stay at the forefront of this wave we propose a broad-ranging program of research aimed at:
- new clocks of 100 times higher performance than any existing clock,
- development of extremely low noise photonic oscillators,
- the application of these new technologies to test the foundations of Physics, including involvement in a space-based experiment.
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The Quest for Ultimate Measurement Precision. Precision measurement is the foundation upon which modern technological society is built. The highest quality measurement devices rely on stable clocks for their operation. The group's existing research has been aimed at developing some of the world's most precise measurement tools based on clocks and lasers. In parallel with this, other scientists have developed the means for exquisite control of light on the microscopic scale. By combining these tw ....The Quest for Ultimate Measurement Precision. Precision measurement is the foundation upon which modern technological society is built. The highest quality measurement devices rely on stable clocks for their operation. The group's existing research has been aimed at developing some of the world's most precise measurement tools based on clocks and lasers. In parallel with this, other scientists have developed the means for exquisite control of light on the microscopic scale. By combining these two technologies, both of which lie at the extreme limit of precision, the group will develop a new generation of technology for fundamental science objectives as well as for industrial needs.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238960
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$940,000.00
Summary
High Performance Semiconductor Micromachining Facility. The purpose of this project is to make available to the Australian semiconductor research community a facility to undertake specialist deposition and etching tasks needed for fabrication of next generation solar cells, microelectronics, optronics, and micro-electromechanical systems. The facility will have the flexibility to allow independent control of major process parameters, allowing development of new fabrication technologies which wi ....High Performance Semiconductor Micromachining Facility. The purpose of this project is to make available to the Australian semiconductor research community a facility to undertake specialist deposition and etching tasks needed for fabrication of next generation solar cells, microelectronics, optronics, and micro-electromechanical systems. The facility will have the flexibility to allow independent control of major process parameters, allowing development of new fabrication technologies which will be generic to a wide range of semiconductor materials. In particular, the facility will be unique in its ability to perform processes at low temperatures, and under conditions that allow optimisation of the deposition and etching processes, without compromising the performance of delicate devices or exceeding the maximum process temperature limitations found in many mainstream semiconductor materials technologies.Read moreRead less
Developing New Clocks for Australia: Testing the Assumptions of Modern Physics. Clocks lie at the heart of all precise measurement devices; for example, they are the crucial elements in modern navigation and telecommunications systems. This project will develop three new clocks for Australia: a laser clock at the leading edge of technology, a novel and compact clock with commercial potential, and a microwave clock for use in the next generation of satellites. The performance advantage conferre ....Developing New Clocks for Australia: Testing the Assumptions of Modern Physics. Clocks lie at the heart of all precise measurement devices; for example, they are the crucial elements in modern navigation and telecommunications systems. This project will develop three new clocks for Australia: a laser clock at the leading edge of technology, a novel and compact clock with commercial potential, and a microwave clock for use in the next generation of satellites. The performance advantage conferred by our new devices can deliver economic benefits while also giving the possibility for scrutinizing the laws of physics for evidence that there is something beyond our present formulation.Read moreRead less
Imaging of properties of coherent elastic light scattering from turbid biological media. Imaging with coherent, elastically-scattered light for visualisation of thick-tissue morphology in vivo, or of cells buried deep in a turbid medium, remains a major challenge. We adopt an alternative approach of imaging of properties of light scattering based on regarding cellular tissue as a spatially-varying refractive-index continuum which encodes scattered light. We propose new methodologies to infer t ....Imaging of properties of coherent elastic light scattering from turbid biological media. Imaging with coherent, elastically-scattered light for visualisation of thick-tissue morphology in vivo, or of cells buried deep in a turbid medium, remains a major challenge. We adopt an alternative approach of imaging of properties of light scattering based on regarding cellular tissue as a spatially-varying refractive-index continuum which encodes scattered light. We propose new methodologies to infer tissue state and morphology indirectly based on phase delay, speckle, and angle-resolved scattering. We will break new ground in correlating the structure and function of in situ epithelial tissue and cells to light scattering enabling, e.g., the detection of mitosis and apoptosis in cells buried in thick, turbid media, and of cancers and precancers in vivo.Read moreRead less
Resonant Nanostructures for Adaptive Optoelectronics. The science and technology outcomes of this project will create new, innovative solutions to current and future challenges facing industry, the community, and Australian national and strategic interests. Adaptive, resonant optoelectronics technologies will create new industries and enable, for the first time, advanced, low-cost, hand-held, spectroscopic systems for chemical/biological/process sensing for industries as diverse as food processi ....Resonant Nanostructures for Adaptive Optoelectronics. The science and technology outcomes of this project will create new, innovative solutions to current and future challenges facing industry, the community, and Australian national and strategic interests. Adaptive, resonant optoelectronics technologies will create new industries and enable, for the first time, advanced, low-cost, hand-held, spectroscopic systems for chemical/biological/process sensing for industries as diverse as food processing to pharmaceuticals manufacturing, portable biomedical diagnostics, and precision agriculture. The technologies will enhance Australia's ability to address defence and security needs related to surveillance, chemical/biological threat monitoring, border protection, and target identification.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0667994
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
National Nanolithography Facility. Nanotechnology is expected to have a major impact on quality of life and global economy. It is predicted to generate revenues as big as the ICT sector in 20 years time. The National Nanolithography Facility will enhance the Australian capability in the field of nanoscale science and technology. This will enable Australian researchers to achieve major impacts in many areas of nanotechnology with a strong potential impact on industry sectors such as computers, ....National Nanolithography Facility. Nanotechnology is expected to have a major impact on quality of life and global economy. It is predicted to generate revenues as big as the ICT sector in 20 years time. The National Nanolithography Facility will enhance the Australian capability in the field of nanoscale science and technology. This will enable Australian researchers to achieve major impacts in many areas of nanotechnology with a strong potential impact on industry sectors such as computers, communications, defence, health, bio-security. This facility has the potential for developing new technologies of fundamental as well as applied interest.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453803
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$535,452.00
Summary
High Performance Optical and Electronic Coatings Facility. The main aim of this project is to establish a state-of-the-art optical and electronic coatings facility for the Australian optoelectronics and nanotechnology research community to develop novel technologies of interest to communications, information technology and nanotechnology industries. The facility will allow the fabrication of a range of active and passive devices including photonic integrated circuits. The facility is f ....High Performance Optical and Electronic Coatings Facility. The main aim of this project is to establish a state-of-the-art optical and electronic coatings facility for the Australian optoelectronics and nanotechnology research community to develop novel technologies of interest to communications, information technology and nanotechnology industries. The facility will allow the fabrication of a range of active and passive devices including photonic integrated circuits. The facility is flexible enough to allow the deposition of a range of dielectric and metal layers with different structural, optical and electrical characteristics of fundamental as well as applied interest. This facility may open up new opportunities to develop microcavities, nanocrystals, tunable lasers and detectors, novel cantilevers for atomic force microscopy.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775668
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$210,000.00
Summary
Direct write - microphotonics fabrication facility. Direct write-microfabrication, where an ultrafast laser is focussed to a small, intense spot and translated under computer control with respect to a target sample, has emerged as a significant enabling technology creating new opportunities in microphotonics. The proposed facility will enable researchers to modify the internal properties of glass blocks and write 'optical wires' (or waveguides). By combining waveguides with other laser written f ....Direct write - microphotonics fabrication facility. Direct write-microfabrication, where an ultrafast laser is focussed to a small, intense spot and translated under computer control with respect to a target sample, has emerged as a significant enabling technology creating new opportunities in microphotonics. The proposed facility will enable researchers to modify the internal properties of glass blocks and write 'optical wires' (or waveguides). By combining waveguides with other laser written functional components researchers will develop devices capable of processing optical information. Outcomes will include demonstrations of compact lasers and slow light generation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882816
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Micro and Nanostructure Optical Characterisation Facility. This facility will allow the carrying out of research in the area of micro and nanostructures which are of interest to Australian industry. Access to state of the art facilities will provide opportunities to train PhD students and post-doctoral fellows in the advanced science and technology fields of national and industrial interest. New technologies developed in this area have the potential to improve the quality of life, e.g. National ....Micro and Nanostructure Optical Characterisation Facility. This facility will allow the carrying out of research in the area of micro and nanostructures which are of interest to Australian industry. Access to state of the art facilities will provide opportunities to train PhD students and post-doctoral fellows in the advanced science and technology fields of national and industrial interest. New technologies developed in this area have the potential to improve the quality of life, e.g. National security, communications, health care.Read moreRead less