Dynamic phased array antennas for terahertz detection and ranging. The project aims to create reciprocal electrically-tuneable phased array antennas for terahertz waves. The antennas will comprise varactor diodes, analogue phase shifters, and dielectric resonator arrays to rapidly transmit and receive beams with high directivity and performance. The intended outcome is an integrated platform for short-range terahertz detection and ranging. This platform could be used in personal radar and drone- ....Dynamic phased array antennas for terahertz detection and ranging. The project aims to create reciprocal electrically-tuneable phased array antennas for terahertz waves. The antennas will comprise varactor diodes, analogue phase shifters, and dielectric resonator arrays to rapidly transmit and receive beams with high directivity and performance. The intended outcome is an integrated platform for short-range terahertz detection and ranging. This platform could be used in personal radar and drone-based radar, and high-contrast standoff detection. The project could benefit public security and welfare.Read moreRead less
Through a glass brightly: opening up the mid-infrared using dysprosium ions. By exploiting the dysprosium ion in a unique and practical way, the project will create high power mid-infrared light with unprecedented optical efficiency. The project will make use of the unusually wide fluorescence spectrum of the dysprosium ion to produce stable and bandwidth-limited ultra-fast light pulses in the mid-infrared. The proposed light sources will have application in mid-infrared nonlinear optics and wil ....Through a glass brightly: opening up the mid-infrared using dysprosium ions. By exploiting the dysprosium ion in a unique and practical way, the project will create high power mid-infrared light with unprecedented optical efficiency. The project will make use of the unusually wide fluorescence spectrum of the dysprosium ion to produce stable and bandwidth-limited ultra-fast light pulses in the mid-infrared. The proposed light sources will have application in mid-infrared nonlinear optics and will benefit medicine, defence, fundamental physics and manufacturing providing excellent opportunities for Australian research, industry and collaboration.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems will develop the next-generation of miniaturised optical systems with functionalities beyond what is conceivable today. By harnessing the disruptive concept of meta-optics, the Centre will overcome complex challenges in light generation, manipulation and detection at the nanoscale. The Centre brings together a trans-disciplinary team of world-leaders in science, ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems will develop the next-generation of miniaturised optical systems with functionalities beyond what is conceivable today. By harnessing the disruptive concept of meta-optics, the Centre will overcome complex challenges in light generation, manipulation and detection at the nanoscale. The Centre brings together a trans-disciplinary team of world-leaders in science, technology and engineering to deliver scientific innovations in optical systems for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The research outcomes will underpin future technologies, including real-time holographic displays, artificial vision for autonomous systems to see the invisible, and ultra-fast light-based WiFi.Read moreRead less
Optics at the nanoscale: physics, devices and applications. This project aims to harness light-matter interactions at the nanoscale for the development of new photonic devices for imaging and optical manipulation. Novel photodetectors that operate from visible to infrared wavelengths will be developed, enabled by sub-wavelength nanostructures. These could form the basis for digital cameras with multispectral imaging capabilities, for example, for biomedical imaging, food quality control and remo ....Optics at the nanoscale: physics, devices and applications. This project aims to harness light-matter interactions at the nanoscale for the development of new photonic devices for imaging and optical manipulation. Novel photodetectors that operate from visible to infrared wavelengths will be developed, enabled by sub-wavelength nanostructures. These could form the basis for digital cameras with multispectral imaging capabilities, for example, for biomedical imaging, food quality control and remote sensing. Nanostructures will be developed that concentrate light to nanoscale spots, enabling the trapping of single molecules and nanoparticles. This project aims to educate the next generation of Australian optical scientists and engineers, building the human infrastructure for future advances in this field.Read moreRead less
Catching the fast waves: high speed RF sensing using Brillouin scattering. This project aims to develop a room temperature approach to fast sensing of microwave electromagnetic waves by harnessing stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), simultaneously achieving high frequency range, high resolution and high-speed performance. This project expects to generate new knowledge in microwave photonics and SBS, specifically elucidating the transient temporal response of SBS. Expected outcomes of this pro ....Catching the fast waves: high speed RF sensing using Brillouin scattering. This project aims to develop a room temperature approach to fast sensing of microwave electromagnetic waves by harnessing stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), simultaneously achieving high frequency range, high resolution and high-speed performance. This project expects to generate new knowledge in microwave photonics and SBS, specifically elucidating the transient temporal response of SBS. Expected outcomes of this project include a proof of concept RF sensor that has multi-Gigahertz real-rime instantaneous bandwidth with high-resolution that can be miniaturized on to a chip. This compact RF sensor, will play a vital role for situational awareness in space, defence and communications applications. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101535
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,000.00
Summary
Smart radio-frequency filter in a tuneable optical circuit. A massive technology gap of high quality tuneable filters in the microwave (1-100 GHz) frequency range is impeding advances towards fully-reconfigurable wireless systems. This project aims to address this limitation and to deliver the world's first reconfigurable microwave filter with unprecedented tuning range, resolution, and selectivity using integrated microwave photonics technology. The project aims to produce the critical filter t ....Smart radio-frequency filter in a tuneable optical circuit. A massive technology gap of high quality tuneable filters in the microwave (1-100 GHz) frequency range is impeding advances towards fully-reconfigurable wireless systems. This project aims to address this limitation and to deliver the world's first reconfigurable microwave filter with unprecedented tuning range, resolution, and selectivity using integrated microwave photonics technology. The project aims to produce the critical filter technology for advanced radio spectrum management and efficient bandwidth utilisation. The project will endeavour to have a profound impact on virtually all high bandwidth microwave systems in key sectors such as wireless communications, defence, and radio astronomy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100585
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,000.00
Summary
On-chip generation and processing of high-power multi-GHz frequency combs. The project aims to deliver a chip-scale stable optical frequency comb technology with high-power and multi-GHz frequency spacing. The lack of this technology has prevented fundamental advances in wide-ranging applications that require high signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) combs. The project seeks to demonstrate combs using waveguide laser technology and to integrate it with a reconfigurable optical filter to select and proces ....On-chip generation and processing of high-power multi-GHz frequency combs. The project aims to deliver a chip-scale stable optical frequency comb technology with high-power and multi-GHz frequency spacing. The lack of this technology has prevented fundamental advances in wide-ranging applications that require high signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) combs. The project seeks to demonstrate combs using waveguide laser technology and to integrate it with a reconfigurable optical filter to select and process individual comb lines. Key advantages of this technology, including high SNR, reconfigurability, high stability, small footprint and low-cost, are expected to improve astronomy’s ability to detect Earth-like planets, telecommunications to increase the overall internet capacity, and global positioning systems (GPS).Read moreRead less
Enabling on-chip mid-infrared laser technology by overcoming parasitic loss in Group IV semiconductors. Miniaturised and on-chip mid-infrared lasers are needed in many fields, particularly defence, medicine and environmental sensing. This project will overcome problems in key semiconductor materials to create practical devices with the properties needed to address challenges of national security and commercial importance.
Sensing and Communications for Tactical Radio: Mapping the RF Weather. This project investigates sensing, localisation and communication strategies to improve the performance of modern tactical radio networks. Such networks face all of the well-known design challenges of mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) but with added complication of a contested and adversarial operating environment. By exploiting the power of radio nodes to sense the radio spectrum, as well as to communicate over it, a distribut ....Sensing and Communications for Tactical Radio: Mapping the RF Weather. This project investigates sensing, localisation and communication strategies to improve the performance of modern tactical radio networks. Such networks face all of the well-known design challenges of mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) but with added complication of a contested and adversarial operating environment. By exploiting the power of radio nodes to sense the radio spectrum, as well as to communicate over it, a distributed network of nodes can create a detailed picture of the surrounding radio-frequency (RF) environment: the nodes can work together to map the “RF weather”. In this project we will design advanced sensing and localisation methods to accurately map the RF spectrum, and then exploit this map in communication system design.Read moreRead less
Producing optimally short pulses at long wavelengths. This project aims to make the fluoride glass fibre platform the preferred material for generating ultrashort pulses at 2.8 nm and beyond. High power and efficiency from simple device architectures are essential for industry, medicine and defence. Modern sources of short pulses of light emitting mid-infrared wavelengths are complicated and inefficient. This project will improve fibre sources emitting short pulses and create the essential build ....Producing optimally short pulses at long wavelengths. This project aims to make the fluoride glass fibre platform the preferred material for generating ultrashort pulses at 2.8 nm and beyond. High power and efficiency from simple device architectures are essential for industry, medicine and defence. Modern sources of short pulses of light emitting mid-infrared wavelengths are complicated and inefficient. This project will improve fibre sources emitting short pulses and create the essential building blocks for future all-fibre arrangements that will be more robust. The sources are expected to have applications in non-linear optics and materials modification.Read moreRead less