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
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
Asymmetric InP-based structures for high power laser diodes at 1400-1500 nm for pumping optical amplifiers used in communication systems. This project is aimed at obtaining high power, single mode 1400-1500 nm wavelength laser diodes using a novel design of asymmetric InP-based structures. These devices are in great demand for pumping of erbium-doped and Raman amplifiers for powering the next generation of dense wavelength division multiplexing optical networks. The low modal gain (confinement f ....Asymmetric InP-based structures for high power laser diodes at 1400-1500 nm for pumping optical amplifiers used in communication systems. This project is aimed at obtaining high power, single mode 1400-1500 nm wavelength laser diodes using a novel design of asymmetric InP-based structures. These devices are in great demand for pumping of erbium-doped and Raman amplifiers for powering the next generation of dense wavelength division multiplexing optical networks. The low modal gain (confinement factor) of this asymmetric structure is expected to reduce internal losses and hence increase the output power with better thermal dissipation. Single mode could be obtained by careful design in the trade-off between filamentation and threshold current. Ion implantation is also proposed to suppress higher order modes.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347464
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
Setting up an integrated wirebonding and testing facility for MEMS applications. This project intends to setup an integrated wire bonding and testing facility suitable for Micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) applications. Wire bonding is an essential step for making the contacts of any micro device with external power supply or signal conditioning circuitry. The contact pads for such devices vary in size from 0.050 mm x 0.050 mm to few 100s of micrometers. The proposed facility will be requi ....Setting up an integrated wirebonding and testing facility for MEMS applications. This project intends to setup an integrated wire bonding and testing facility suitable for Micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) applications. Wire bonding is an essential step for making the contacts of any micro device with external power supply or signal conditioning circuitry. The contact pads for such devices vary in size from 0.050 mm x 0.050 mm to few 100s of micrometers. The proposed facility will be required for making contacts either using thermal or ultrasonic methods with complete automatic stages. The electrical contacts are used to drive or monitor MEMS, Polymer micro devices and nano- fluidic systems. This facility will be used for different applications including photonics and communication devices (RMIT), flexi circuits and microwave devices (DSTO) and micro/nano fluidic systems (SUT). This will be the only advanced integrated facility in Victoria, which will have the wire bonding(ball & wedge), die bonding and bond testing facilities together.Read moreRead less
New multiplexed optical read-out technologies for micromachined cantilever sensor arrays. Passive sensing of chemical and biological agents is an essential capability in fields as diverse as national security, agriculture, mining and medicine. In many cases, generic sensing (e.g. are there pesticides present) as well as specific sensing (which pesticide) are both important. While sensors based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have shown extremely high performance at low cost, they have ....New multiplexed optical read-out technologies for micromachined cantilever sensor arrays. Passive sensing of chemical and biological agents is an essential capability in fields as diverse as national security, agriculture, mining and medicine. In many cases, generic sensing (e.g. are there pesticides present) as well as specific sensing (which pesticide) are both important. While sensors based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have shown extremely high performance at low cost, they have been limited to detection of a specific substance. Success in this project will make low cost generic MEMS-based sensors a reality, allowing, for the first time, wide-spread use of sensitive sensing systems in applications such as farming, container transport security, general medical practice and national security.Read moreRead less
Automated photonic multi-spectral weed discrimination sensor for precision agriculture. Australian farmers spend over $800 million yearly on herbicides. The proposed technology can reduce herbicide usage by 80% (i.e. over $640 million p.a. saving) and improve crop yields by 30%. Precision application of herbicides, fertilisers and nutrients to weeds and crops has both economic and environmental benefits which will increase farm profits and boost Australia's export sales. Reduced chemical loads o ....Automated photonic multi-spectral weed discrimination sensor for precision agriculture. Australian farmers spend over $800 million yearly on herbicides. The proposed technology can reduce herbicide usage by 80% (i.e. over $640 million p.a. saving) and improve crop yields by 30%. Precision application of herbicides, fertilisers and nutrients to weeds and crops has both economic and environmental benefits which will increase farm profits and boost Australia's export sales. Reduced chemical loads on ecosystems will benefit the environment and reduced chemicals in the food chain will benefit the health of Australians. This development will put Australia at the cutting edge of precision spray technology and has numerous spin-off applications in many sectors.Read moreRead less
Development of a novel photonic reticulation system for cost efficient delivery of high bandwidth communication services to regional communities. The R&D and commercialisation of the DWDM-lite will have a significant impact on the efficiency of Australia's telecommunications industry with consequent flow-on effects to the productivity and competitiveness of Australian telecommunications industry. The availability of broadband telecommunications services to regional communities at service and ser ....Development of a novel photonic reticulation system for cost efficient delivery of high bandwidth communication services to regional communities. The R&D and commercialisation of the DWDM-lite will have a significant impact on the efficiency of Australia's telecommunications industry with consequent flow-on effects to the productivity and competitiveness of Australian telecommunications industry. The availability of broadband telecommunications services to regional communities at service and services levels to those of metropolitan customers is a recognised national priority. It lies at the core of the Australian Government's recently announced Connect Australia plan directing at regional community benefits in improved availability and affordability of broadband telecommunications services. The product will enhance Australian participation in the global equipment supply industryRead moreRead less
Biomedical Applications of Self-Mixing Sensors based on Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser Arrays. The Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) is a new optical device of choice for high speed optical data networks. We propose that this communications technology can be used as a platform to develop a completely new family of sensors ideally suited to medical monitoring. Specifically, we will develop VCSEL based technology for measurement of heart activity and sensing of blood flow in ....Biomedical Applications of Self-Mixing Sensors based on Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser Arrays. The Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) is a new optical device of choice for high speed optical data networks. We propose that this communications technology can be used as a platform to develop a completely new family of sensors ideally suited to medical monitoring. Specifically, we will develop VCSEL based technology for measurement of heart activity and sensing of blood flow in skin and tissues. This will provide novel sensors for heart monitoring and imaging, and management of skin disorders (burns and cancer).Read moreRead less