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
Advanced Laser, Sensor and Diagnostic Technologies Using New Generation Micro- and Nano- Structured Fibres and Gratings. The project aims to provide the next generation of laser and sensor technologies, benefiting not only advanced instrument industries but also others involved with materials processing, sensing diagnostics, biomedicine and defence. The search for a universal model of light interactions with all photosensitive materials, coupled with a demonstration of nanotechnology within a fi ....Advanced Laser, Sensor and Diagnostic Technologies Using New Generation Micro- and Nano- Structured Fibres and Gratings. The project aims to provide the next generation of laser and sensor technologies, benefiting not only advanced instrument industries but also others involved with materials processing, sensing diagnostics, biomedicine and defence. The search for a universal model of light interactions with all photosensitive materials, coupled with a demonstration of nanotechnology within a fibre, will lead to new gratings and fibres that underpin these technologies as well as open up new techniques and processes such as practical radiation hardening of optical waveguides.Read moreRead less
Laboratory in a Fibre: diagnostic, sensing and telecommunications technologies. The lab-in-a-fibre aims to provide the next generation of diagnostic, sensing and telecommunications technologies. Mass production of km long optical fibre platforms for the lab-in-a-fibre offers cost competitive alternative to lab-on-a-chip technologies in applications where several diagnostic, sensing processes or component technologies are required. It will benefit not only advanced instrument industries but also ....Laboratory in a Fibre: diagnostic, sensing and telecommunications technologies. The lab-in-a-fibre aims to provide the next generation of diagnostic, sensing and telecommunications technologies. Mass production of km long optical fibre platforms for the lab-in-a-fibre offers cost competitive alternative to lab-on-a-chip technologies in applications where several diagnostic, sensing processes or component technologies are required. It will benefit not only advanced instrument industries but also others involved with materials processing, sensing diagnostics, biomedicine and defence. The overall integration within the program will provide the mechanism to create new, highly skilled Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Microfluidic photonic systems. Australia is set to reap commercial benefits nationally and internationally from new developments in the highly competitive domain of microtechnology. In this project, a group of Australia's leading researchers propose an innovative combination of two exciting fields of scientific research. Microfluidics is the manipulation of minute quantities of liquids in microscopic channels, while photonics is the generation, transmission, detection and analysis of light as a ....Microfluidic photonic systems. Australia is set to reap commercial benefits nationally and internationally from new developments in the highly competitive domain of microtechnology. In this project, a group of Australia's leading researchers propose an innovative combination of two exciting fields of scientific research. Microfluidics is the manipulation of minute quantities of liquids in microscopic channels, while photonics is the generation, transmission, detection and analysis of light as a means to convey, collect and process information. The marriage of these two fields promises the development of novel, high performance tunable devices for sensing, biotechnology and telecommunications.Read moreRead less
Semiconductor Photonic Crystal Devices. Photonic crystals will be a key element of future all-optical ultra-highspeed photonic integrated circuits for telecommunications and signal processing. This project will pioneer new structures capable of manipulating light on integrated photonic chips, based on nano-scale features in semiconductors. This will have a significant impact on Australia's photonics industry.
Complex Dopant Diffusivity in Photonic Crystal Fibres and Applications. The outcomes of this research in the area of doped photonic crystal fibres will enable Australia to commercialise the technology and provide an opportunity for leading commercial ventures using novel doped PCF. These opportunities will eventually become large-scale industrial activities developed from the research in fields such as sensing, biophotonics, medical and defence and will result in significant economic benefit for ....Complex Dopant Diffusivity in Photonic Crystal Fibres and Applications. The outcomes of this research in the area of doped photonic crystal fibres will enable Australia to commercialise the technology and provide an opportunity for leading commercial ventures using novel doped PCF. These opportunities will eventually become large-scale industrial activities developed from the research in fields such as sensing, biophotonics, medical and defence and will result in significant economic benefit for Australia. Fundamental research outcomes in glass and dopants that can boost devices and introduce novel devices resulting from this project will contribute to all National Research Priorities.Read moreRead less
Assisted GPS and Advanced Positioning For Emergency Services. Many volunteers have lost their lives fighting bushfires in Australia. Fires are becoming more numerous and more fierce. Some of those firemen could have been saved if better information was available: where they were, where the firefront was and how it was progressing. This project aims to save lives by solving part of this problem: locating and reporting the position of the remote firefighter by making GPS work reliably under trees. ....Assisted GPS and Advanced Positioning For Emergency Services. Many volunteers have lost their lives fighting bushfires in Australia. Fires are becoming more numerous and more fierce. Some of those firemen could have been saved if better information was available: where they were, where the firefront was and how it was progressing. This project aims to save lives by solving part of this problem: locating and reporting the position of the remote firefighter by making GPS work reliably under trees. This will also make search and rescue operations safer and more efficient. The technology can transfer readily into the location-based services market which is set to boom in the next decade. This project helps maintain momentum in Australia's world-class but small positioning industry.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.
Creation of novel photonic and nanostructured materials by ablation of solids with ultra-fast lasers. This project will study of the production of technologically important thin film materials and nanostructured materials using our patented ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition process. Thin film materials required for future applications in photonics will be a priority. In addition ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition can be used to create nanopartilces and mechanisms affecting the growth of these ....Creation of novel photonic and nanostructured materials by ablation of solids with ultra-fast lasers. This project will study of the production of technologically important thin film materials and nanostructured materials using our patented ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition process. Thin film materials required for future applications in photonics will be a priority. In addition ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition can be used to create nanopartilces and mechanisms affecting the growth of these materials will be studied. The project therefore falls into two priority areas: photon science and nanotechnology. Outcomes in addition to new knowledge will include materials and processes with commercial potential.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