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
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
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
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
Ultra-high density permanent and/or erasable optical memory in photorefractive media formed by ultrafast laser pulses. A possibility to form tree-dimensional 10Tb-density optical memory based on permanent modification, or damage, of transparent dielectrics, using powerful femtosecond laser pulses has already been demonstrated by the Applicants. This project aims to improve the fundamental understanding of ultrafast laser formation of nano-bits using unique ability of photorefractive materials t ....Ultra-high density permanent and/or erasable optical memory in photorefractive media formed by ultrafast laser pulses. A possibility to form tree-dimensional 10Tb-density optical memory based on permanent modification, or damage, of transparent dielectrics, using powerful femtosecond laser pulses has already been demonstrated by the Applicants. This project aims to improve the fundamental understanding of ultrafast laser formation of nano-bits using unique ability of photorefractive materials to reversible change and the refractive index. We aim to find ways for controlling the storage time, density and the writing-reading-erasing rate without inducing damage in the material. The results will be applied to efficient formation of high-speed, high density, write-read-erase 3D optical memory for applications in the information technology.
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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
Advanced Siloxane Waveguide Devices for Telecommunications. This project will develop new methods for fabricating compact, high performance photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for use in future telecommunications networks in films of proprietary Inorganic Polymer Glasses (IPGs) commercialised by RPO Pty Ltd. New fabrication methods are required to overcome limitations of the current approach to patterning IPGs used by RPO Pty Ltd. Research will concentrate on hard contact lithography in conjunct ....Advanced Siloxane Waveguide Devices for Telecommunications. This project will develop new methods for fabricating compact, high performance photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for use in future telecommunications networks in films of proprietary Inorganic Polymer Glasses (IPGs) commercialised by RPO Pty Ltd. New fabrication methods are required to overcome limitations of the current approach to patterning IPGs used by RPO Pty Ltd. Research will concentrate on hard contact lithography in conjunction with dry (plasma) etching as well as ion beam milling; laser machining or UV writing for grating production. IPGs present special challenges for these technologies. The project outcomes will include new approaches to processing and the demonstration of the fabrication of innovative PICs in IPGs.Read moreRead less
Defect-induced luminescence from ion-implanted silicon: Towards silicon photonics applications. This project focusses on advanced materials science, photonics and innovative silicon optical devices that have potential for contributing to information and communications technologies, areas where Australia has considerable expertise and investment. Specifically, national benefit will be derived from breakthroughs in fundamental science and intellectual property.
Coherent Optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing. Coherent optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (CO-OFDM) incorporates the benefits of OFDM to compensate for distortion and monitor the channel conditions in long-haul optical links. The advantages of CO-OFDM can help meet the challenges of future optical networks that Australia depends upon for its information infrastructure and economic growth. Australia is currently at the forefront of optical OFDM technology, and the ....Coherent Optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing. Coherent optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (CO-OFDM) incorporates the benefits of OFDM to compensate for distortion and monitor the channel conditions in long-haul optical links. The advantages of CO-OFDM can help meet the challenges of future optical networks that Australia depends upon for its information infrastructure and economic growth. Australia is currently at the forefront of optical OFDM technology, and the continuation of these research activities will further improve Australia's international ICT reputation. Furthermore, in the course of the project, a senior research associate and multiple highly-skilled students will be trained and exposed to techniques and innovations in this exciting field.Read moreRead less