Intravital super-resolution imaging via Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy (STED)-microendoscopy. We will develop a new technology to enable the imaging of sub-cellular structures within a biological specimen, with super-resolution. This intravital super-resolution imaging technology will build off world leading techniques to image objects with super-resolution and to perform this within a specimen, with minimal invasion. The broad ramifications of this technology apply to biology, medical ....Intravital super-resolution imaging via Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy (STED)-microendoscopy. We will develop a new technology to enable the imaging of sub-cellular structures within a biological specimen, with super-resolution. This intravital super-resolution imaging technology will build off world leading techniques to image objects with super-resolution and to perform this within a specimen, with minimal invasion. The broad ramifications of this technology apply to biology, medical science, imaging and sensing. Important applications include the early detection of debilitating diseases and the advancement of understanding of cellular biology. This research will raise Australia's profile as a world leader in science and technology, building on our emerging presence in the biophysical sciences.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100934
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,082.00
Summary
Taming the light: full control in polarisation, space, and time. This project aims to develop two prototype optical beam shaping systems, culminating in the demonstration of new high-power optical fibre amplifiers. This novel ability to control all the properties of light enables the generation of optical beams that were only theoretical ideas but never previously implemented experimentally. This advanced technology can potentially open new ways in which objects can be probed using light. Expect ....Taming the light: full control in polarisation, space, and time. This project aims to develop two prototype optical beam shaping systems, culminating in the demonstration of new high-power optical fibre amplifiers. This novel ability to control all the properties of light enables the generation of optical beams that were only theoretical ideas but never previously implemented experimentally. This advanced technology can potentially open new ways in which objects can be probed using light. Expected outcomes include the creation of an optical platform that the optical community at large may utilise for their specific applications. Besides the intellectual property benefits of such optical devices directly, this project should bridge the gap between the developed knowledge and commercial opportunities.Read moreRead less
Control of light in space and time in multimode optical fibres. This project aims to create devices to measure and manipulate the spatial and temporal properties of light. The ability to control or measure the spatial and/or temporal properties of light is a fundamental feature of many applications, including biomedical imaging, astronomy, telecommunications, high-power lasers and quantum computing. This project will develop five prototype systems to control the spatiotemporal properties of ligh ....Control of light in space and time in multimode optical fibres. This project aims to create devices to measure and manipulate the spatial and temporal properties of light. The ability to control or measure the spatial and/or temporal properties of light is a fundamental feature of many applications, including biomedical imaging, astronomy, telecommunications, high-power lasers and quantum computing. This project will develop five prototype systems to control the spatiotemporal properties of light in ways that were previously not possible. This would affect fundamental and applied applications where the inability to sufficiently control light’s spatial and/or temporal properties is an impediment. Examples include imaging deep into ‘opaque’ objects such as human skin or brain, high-power lasers for material processing and manufacturing, optical telecommunications and quantum computation.Read moreRead less
Optically-driven micromachines and microtools. The use of optical forces to trap and manipulate microscopic particles has developed from a novelty into a widely used versatile research tool - optical tweezers. New advances, such as the application and optical measurement of optical torque, have been brought to the brink of practical application. We will apply these methods to the development and production of micromachines of unprecedently small size, and the development of new medical diagnosti ....Optically-driven micromachines and microtools. The use of optical forces to trap and manipulate microscopic particles has developed from a novelty into a widely used versatile research tool - optical tweezers. New advances, such as the application and optical measurement of optical torque, have been brought to the brink of practical application. We will apply these methods to the development and production of micromachines of unprecedently small size, and the development of new medical diagnostic techniques, and industrial and research tools.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101721
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Probing the excited states of organic semiconductor systems with photoinduced absorption spectroscopy. Plastic semiconductors have the potential to revolutionise consumer electronics by enabling cheap, flexible and low power devices. The success of these devices depends on our understanding of the optical and electronic properties of the materials, which this project aims to address through the use of photoinduced absorption spectroscopy.
Bright x-ray beams from laser-driven microplasmas. This project aims to develop a new generation of bright, laser-like x-ray sources for laboratory use. X-ray sources underpin key diagnostic techniques in materials science, advancing applications from structural engineering through to ore processing and energy storage. However, the limited brightness of present-day laboratory x-ray sources restricts the utility and range of these diagnostic techniques. This research intends to use intense lasers ....Bright x-ray beams from laser-driven microplasmas. This project aims to develop a new generation of bright, laser-like x-ray sources for laboratory use. X-ray sources underpin key diagnostic techniques in materials science, advancing applications from structural engineering through to ore processing and energy storage. However, the limited brightness of present-day laboratory x-ray sources restricts the utility and range of these diagnostic techniques. This research intends to use intense lasers to create microscopic plasmas and drive high harmonic generation. The high harmonic generation process is already used to create laser-like ultraviolet light. By optimising the characteristics of the plasma medium, the project aims to extend bright high harmonic generation to the x-ray regime.Read moreRead less
Probe-free biophysical force and torque measurements with optical tweezers. This project aims to develop probe-free biophysical force and torque measurement methods based on optical tweezers. Many areas of research in cell biology are hampered by a lack of quantitative force measurements. This project aims to provide accurate quantitative measurements to enable in-depth understanding of forces at work during cell division, properties of blood cells and sperm motility which could generate further ....Probe-free biophysical force and torque measurements with optical tweezers. This project aims to develop probe-free biophysical force and torque measurement methods based on optical tweezers. Many areas of research in cell biology are hampered by a lack of quantitative force measurements. This project aims to provide accurate quantitative measurements to enable in-depth understanding of forces at work during cell division, properties of blood cells and sperm motility which could generate further research leading to health benefits.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of constrained Brownian motion of neuro-secretory vesicles. This project will shed light on a fundamental problem the mechanism of brain cell communication by use of quantitative biophotonics methods including laser tracking, optical tweezers and three dimensional fluorescence microscopy. This work will give valuable new clues to finally solve the dynamics of molecular interactions underpinning neuronal communication.
Force microscopy with arbitrary optically-trapped probes and application to internal mechanics of cells. The ability to perform micromanipulation on particles, macromolecules, subcellular organelles, or whole cells is fundamental in elucidating processes such as chromosome movement during cell division, and movement of cell components in and out of the cell. The recent advances in optical tweezers have allowed this type of micromanipulation to approach reality. However, determination of the true ....Force microscopy with arbitrary optically-trapped probes and application to internal mechanics of cells. The ability to perform micromanipulation on particles, macromolecules, subcellular organelles, or whole cells is fundamental in elucidating processes such as chromosome movement during cell division, and movement of cell components in and out of the cell. The recent advances in optical tweezers have allowed this type of micromanipulation to approach reality. However, determination of the true optical force is critical for this technique to reach its full potential. This project will develop novel techniques to quantitatively determine the absolute optical force applied to the cell component using the process of ingestion (phagocytosis) as a proof-of-principle test, and measure forces in chromosome movement and vesicle transport within cells.Read moreRead less