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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100071
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Light-bending strategies of next generation scalable plasmonic devices. This project will focus on a goal of engineering novel plasmonic metamaterials for manipulating light at the nanoscale. In particular, it will employ curved anodized alumina templates as well as 3D hybrid structures to explore light bending and strong resonances at the visible spectral range. Plasmonic metamaterials offer a unique ability to control subwavelength light propagation, for achieving unprecedented sensing sensiti ....Light-bending strategies of next generation scalable plasmonic devices. This project will focus on a goal of engineering novel plasmonic metamaterials for manipulating light at the nanoscale. In particular, it will employ curved anodized alumina templates as well as 3D hybrid structures to explore light bending and strong resonances at the visible spectral range. Plasmonic metamaterials offer a unique ability to control subwavelength light propagation, for achieving unprecedented sensing sensitivities and emerging nanophotonics phenomena. However, fabrication challenges and high losses hamper their application in the visible spectral range. Engineering these plasmonic structures in a scalable manner should strengthen Australia’s economy, lead to new industrial companies in the emerging field of plasmonics, attract international investments and create job opportunities.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101503
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Design of a biologically inspired running and climbing robotic lizard. Watch any movie and it will tell you that robots are the future. The trouble is that recent attempts to build running and climbing robots have had limited success. This project explores locomotion of lizards to improve upon shortfalls in current robotic design, to build biologically inspired robots capable of running and climbing up and down walls.
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
Integrated optical phased arrays for light detection and ranging (LIDAR). This project aims to resolve challenging problems in light detection and ranging (LIDAR) to enable realisation of LIDAR sensors with low-power consumption, small size, high resolution and low cost. It proposes new techniques for integrated silicon photonic beam-steering to reduce the Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP), and achieve high-resolution beams with hardware reduction. Outcomes herald disruptive, compact on-chip LIDAR ....Integrated optical phased arrays for light detection and ranging (LIDAR). This project aims to resolve challenging problems in light detection and ranging (LIDAR) to enable realisation of LIDAR sensors with low-power consumption, small size, high resolution and low cost. It proposes new techniques for integrated silicon photonic beam-steering to reduce the Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP), and achieve high-resolution beams with hardware reduction. Outcomes herald disruptive, compact on-chip LIDAR technology for various applications including secure communications, miniaturized sensing, tracking systems, and autonomous vehicles. Significant benefits include industry growth, safeguarding Australia, and major economic benefits underpinning a huge market encompassing autonomous vehicles and robotics.
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Laser emission at the limit of glass transparency using nanocrystal doping . We will create a new composite glass providing strong fluorescence which fully exploits the high transmission of glass in the mid-infrared. When combined with emerging rare earth ion transitions and precise excitation processes, this project will help solve an important problem in optics; that the overall efficiency and power produced from deep mid-infrared light sources is not sufficient for all industries. The primary ....Laser emission at the limit of glass transparency using nanocrystal doping . We will create a new composite glass providing strong fluorescence which fully exploits the high transmission of glass in the mid-infrared. When combined with emerging rare earth ion transitions and precise excitation processes, this project will help solve an important problem in optics; that the overall efficiency and power produced from deep mid-infrared light sources is not sufficient for all industries. The primary outcome will be a series of robust fibre-based gain modules suitable for high power and very short optical pulses in the mid-infrared. These light sources will beneficially impact medicine, defence, sensing and manufacturing providing excellent opportunities for increasing Australian productivity and global competitiveness. Read moreRead less
Silicon-germanium-carbon - a novel opto-mechanic material for optical micro-electromechanical systems. Evolving from past black-and-white images, through present red-green-blue multi-spectral capability, future remote imaging systems promise spectroscopic functionality across much broader wavelength ranges in a low-cost system. However, the high cost of multiple materials and technologies for each specific spectral band limits them to high-cost industry sectors. This project proposes a simple, l ....Silicon-germanium-carbon - a novel opto-mechanic material for optical micro-electromechanical systems. Evolving from past black-and-white images, through present red-green-blue multi-spectral capability, future remote imaging systems promise spectroscopic functionality across much broader wavelength ranges in a low-cost system. However, the high cost of multiple materials and technologies for each specific spectral band limits them to high-cost industry sectors. This project proposes a simple, low-cost, single material technology based on silicon-germanium-carbon thin films for mechanical and optical applications from ultraviolet to long-wave infrared, enabling widespread application of spectroscopic imaging to multiple fields extending from climate change research, through resource exploration, to cancer detection, and aerospace/defense.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