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
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 generation of hyperspectral infrared photon detectors. Although highly desirable for many applications, tuneable, on chip, infrared photon detectors are not yet available. The approach described in this application aims to develop a technology for high performance, on chip, infrared photon detectors that can be tuned over a wide wavelength range. By applying a novel in-house developed semiconductor process and a multi-disciplinary approach, this project aims to develop such devices by combin ....New generation of hyperspectral infrared photon detectors. Although highly desirable for many applications, tuneable, on chip, infrared photon detectors are not yet available. The approach described in this application aims to develop a technology for high performance, on chip, infrared photon detectors that can be tuned over a wide wavelength range. By applying a novel in-house developed semiconductor process and a multi-disciplinary approach, this project aims to develop such devices by combining, for the first time, micromachined tuneable optical microcavities with high performance HgCdTe-based infrared detectors.Read moreRead less
Novel silicon photonic devices harnessing new leakage behaviour. The continuing advance of microprocessor performance requires vast quantities of data to be transferred between on-chip processor cores and to the outside world. The transfer of data via metal wires cannot meet this demand due to limited bandwidth and astonishing heat generation. Low-loss photonic transport integrated onto the silicon chip offers a solution. With this project we will explore harnessing a newly discovered phenomenon ....Novel silicon photonic devices harnessing new leakage behaviour. The continuing advance of microprocessor performance requires vast quantities of data to be transferred between on-chip processor cores and to the outside world. The transfer of data via metal wires cannot meet this demand due to limited bandwidth and astonishing heat generation. Low-loss photonic transport integrated onto the silicon chip offers a solution. With this project we will explore harnessing a newly discovered phenomenon in silicon photonics to achieve devices such as electrically pumped lasers and wavelength routers. The project will collaborate closely with researchers in the USA, but will focus on research of designs that can be created in Australia and licensed to major industry across the globe.
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Electronic properties of diamondlike carbon for applications in planar optical waveguides. This project will explore new applications of diamondlike carbon in the area of integrated optics for telecommunications systems. Diamondlike carbon offers opportunities to create novel electro-optic devices owing to its high refractive index and its ability to be deposited directly onto silicon substrates. This project will conduct a thorough study of the electronic properties of diamondlike carbon depo ....Electronic properties of diamondlike carbon for applications in planar optical waveguides. This project will explore new applications of diamondlike carbon in the area of integrated optics for telecommunications systems. Diamondlike carbon offers opportunities to create novel electro-optic devices owing to its high refractive index and its ability to be deposited directly onto silicon substrates. This project will conduct a thorough study of the electronic properties of diamondlike carbon deposited by two techniques and develop potential niche applications in the $5 billion integrated optical telecommunications devices. The work will combine fundamental studies of thin film electronic properties with leading edge industry applications of technology and provide an excellent research training opportunity.Read moreRead less
Thulium doped silica-based optical fibres - towards the realisation of an optical amplifier. In the last decade the data capacity of a single optical fibre has grown way beyond all expectations. However, our ability to utilise the available capacity continues to keep pace with any advance. This project has the potential to add substantially to the transmission capacity by developing an optical amplifier at wavelengths which, although available within the fibre, can not currently be utilised. The ....Thulium doped silica-based optical fibres - towards the realisation of an optical amplifier. In the last decade the data capacity of a single optical fibre has grown way beyond all expectations. However, our ability to utilise the available capacity continues to keep pace with any advance. This project has the potential to add substantially to the transmission capacity by developing an optical amplifier at wavelengths which, although available within the fibre, can not currently be utilised. The focus of the project is the study of thulium doped silica-based fibres for amplification in the 1460 to 1530 nm wavelength region. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347140
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$208,000.00
Summary
Picosecond optical probing and characterization of infrared and visible devices. The facility consists of a laser to generate short infrared pulses, and an oscilloscope and detectors to measure such pulses. It will be used to characterize and investigate a new generation of novel optical fibre devices and microstructures, which are to form the basis of the next generation of telecommunications systems, and also novel and unique laser types. The research and development of all of these devices ar ....Picosecond optical probing and characterization of infrared and visible devices. The facility consists of a laser to generate short infrared pulses, and an oscilloscope and detectors to measure such pulses. It will be used to characterize and investigate a new generation of novel optical fibre devices and microstructures, which are to form the basis of the next generation of telecommunications systems, and also novel and unique laser types. The research and development of all of these devices are receiving external funding (or are in negotiations therefore). The facility allows for high-speed and high-accuracy data acquisition, which makes it unique in Australia.Read moreRead less
Novel multi-channel and nonlinear Bragg grating devices. High capacity and reliable telecommunications links are essential for many aspects of modern life and work. Optical fibres offer essentially unlimited capacity, but their optimal use requires the transmission of multiple wavelength channels simultaneously. This, in turn, requires the development of special-purpose fibre devices for multiplexing and de-multiplexing these channels, as well as for other optical filtering and switching tasks. ....Novel multi-channel and nonlinear Bragg grating devices. High capacity and reliable telecommunications links are essential for many aspects of modern life and work. Optical fibres offer essentially unlimited capacity, but their optimal use requires the transmission of multiple wavelength channels simultaneously. This, in turn, requires the development of special-purpose fibre devices for multiplexing and de-multiplexing these channels, as well as for other optical filtering and switching tasks. Fibre Bragg gratings are central to many of these devices, and the aim of this project is to develop novel designs for linear and nonlinear Bragg grating devices which may significantly widen the current range of their applications.Read moreRead less
Photonic Crystals and Microstructured Optical Fibres for Device Applications. Photonic crystals and microstructured optical fibres, which are amongst the most exciting fields of modern optics and photonics, are set to underpin developments in the next generation of ultrahigh-bandwidth communications systems, the functionalities of which will be truly all-optical. This project will bring together of two leading research groups in these areas, enhancing their collaboration, complementing their ex ....Photonic Crystals and Microstructured Optical Fibres for Device Applications. Photonic crystals and microstructured optical fibres, which are amongst the most exciting fields of modern optics and photonics, are set to underpin developments in the next generation of ultrahigh-bandwidth communications systems, the functionalities of which will be truly all-optical. This project will bring together of two leading research groups in these areas, enhancing their collaboration, complementing their expertise, and enabling them to develop new theoretical and computational tools to facilitate device applications. The program will coordinate research over a broad front and bring real benefits to young researchers in both France and Australia.Read moreRead less