Advanced technologies for laser refractive surgery. People who wear glasses can now undergo laser eye-surgery to correct their focussing problems. While many can ?throw away their glasses?, the results are optimised for one viewing situation so that when people move their eyes or refocus, visual clarity is not perfect. We need precise measurements of the eye's shape under dynamic conditions to understand exactly how optical distortions (aberrations) affect clarity of sight. This project is to b ....Advanced technologies for laser refractive surgery. People who wear glasses can now undergo laser eye-surgery to correct their focussing problems. While many can ?throw away their glasses?, the results are optimised for one viewing situation so that when people move their eyes or refocus, visual clarity is not perfect. We need precise measurements of the eye's shape under dynamic conditions to understand exactly how optical distortions (aberrations) affect clarity of sight. This project is to build a laser device that incorporates a deformable mirror to investigate the interplay between aberrations and visual clarity. This new knowledge is a vital next step to improve laser eye-surgery success.Read moreRead less
Super-resolution in microscopy and optical recording. The classical resolution limit imposes severe restrictions on the performance of optical instruments, especially in optical microscopy and optical recording. Improved understanding of the fundamental principles involved in super-resolution should allow substantial increases in resolution to be achieved. We aim to explore theoretically and experimentally the performance of different super-resolution schemes alone and in combination, including ....Super-resolution in microscopy and optical recording. The classical resolution limit imposes severe restrictions on the performance of optical instruments, especially in optical microscopy and optical recording. Improved understanding of the fundamental principles involved in super-resolution should allow substantial increases in resolution to be achieved. We aim to explore theoretically and experimentally the performance of different super-resolution schemes alone and in combination, including optical masks, near-field optics, detector arrays, multi-photon imaging and digital deconvolution. Selected methods will be demonstrated with practical examples in multi-photon microscopy. Applications in super-high density optical recording will also be studied.Read moreRead less
Design and Construction of Novel Thermal Interferometers. This project aims to invent thermal interferometers, which take advantage of the interference effect of thermal waves to display standing temperature interference fringes on a surface of prism. Two coherent thermal waves are input from two other surfaces of the prism in a similar way as an optical interferometer does. By inventing such a device, the project will demonstrate a new instrumentation mechanism which may lead to its applicati ....Design and Construction of Novel Thermal Interferometers. This project aims to invent thermal interferometers, which take advantage of the interference effect of thermal waves to display standing temperature interference fringes on a surface of prism. Two coherent thermal waves are input from two other surfaces of the prism in a similar way as an optical interferometer does. By inventing such a device, the project will demonstrate a new instrumentation mechanism which may lead to its application in medical technology. Furthermore, the principle of temperature localisation due to thermal interference may provide new insights to account for the cause of conformational changes of proteins that result in diseases.Read moreRead less
A wavelength-versatile visible laser for ophthalmic instrumentation. Treatment of a wide range of retinal disorders can be enhanced by a range of treatment modalities using laser beams of different colours. The outcome of this project will be a new laser technology for ophthalmic applications which is unique in its versatility while reducing size and cost. This will allow our partner, Opto Global, to gain a unique market position for its ophthalmic products with flow-on benefits to the Austral ....A wavelength-versatile visible laser for ophthalmic instrumentation. Treatment of a wide range of retinal disorders can be enhanced by a range of treatment modalities using laser beams of different colours. The outcome of this project will be a new laser technology for ophthalmic applications which is unique in its versatility while reducing size and cost. This will allow our partner, Opto Global, to gain a unique market position for its ophthalmic products with flow-on benefits to the Australian economy and ultimately benefits to the community through improved clinical efficacy and patient outcomes. The frontier technology represented by these new laser devices is also applicable to other industries including medical aesthetics, colour projection and display, and defence systems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
High-Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) Platform for Characterisation at the Nanometre-Level. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) is designed to provide fundamental insights into physical and biological systems though characterisation and analysis of structures on nanometre length scales. This versatile instrument will support a wide range of research projects covering all four national research priorities. These range from the characterisation of ....High-Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) Platform for Characterisation at the Nanometre-Level. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) is designed to provide fundamental insights into physical and biological systems though characterisation and analysis of structures on nanometre length scales. This versatile instrument will support a wide range of research projects covering all four national research priorities. These range from the characterisation of light alloys to boost and intensify Australia's aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloy industries, to tissue engineering for the repair of human elastic tissues in skin, artery, bladder and lung, to the study of microtubules in plant cells for genetic manipulation of plants to withstand environmental stresses such as drought or salinity.Read moreRead less
Digital Interferometry: A platform technology for robust optical measurements. Digital interferometry is a new concept which will allow the measurement precision of interferometry to be applied in otherwise inaccessible or unsuitable environments. It will enhance the performance of major scientific instruments, such as gravitational wave detectors and optical telescopes, whilst reducing the cost, giving Australia a high profile in the quest to understand the universe. When applied to everyday ....Digital Interferometry: A platform technology for robust optical measurements. Digital interferometry is a new concept which will allow the measurement precision of interferometry to be applied in otherwise inaccessible or unsuitable environments. It will enhance the performance of major scientific instruments, such as gravitational wave detectors and optical telescopes, whilst reducing the cost, giving Australia a high profile in the quest to understand the universe. When applied to everyday situations, such as surveillance, traffic flow or vibration monitoring, it can give Australian industry a economic and social advantage, increasing the wealth and security of the nation. Read moreRead less
Astrophotonics: exploiting a new technological frontier to probe back to the Dark Ages. Photonics, a key research strength in Australia, emerged from the telecommunications industry. But this exciting field has now begun to foster new scientific disciplines. One of the most recent is astrophotonics, a field at the interface of photonics and another Australian research strength, astronomy. Astrophotonics will deliver cutting-edge technologies to ensure Australia's astronomical lead in the next de ....Astrophotonics: exploiting a new technological frontier to probe back to the Dark Ages. Photonics, a key research strength in Australia, emerged from the telecommunications industry. But this exciting field has now begun to foster new scientific disciplines. One of the most recent is astrophotonics, a field at the interface of photonics and another Australian research strength, astronomy. Astrophotonics will deliver cutting-edge technologies to ensure Australia's astronomical lead in the next decade. These new facilities will serve as a vital stepping stone to the Giant Magellan Telescope, a $500M project promising enormous economic, engineering and scientific opportunities for Australia. Astrophotonics will also lead to innovative technology transfer to fields such as medical science, optical computing and sensor technology.Read moreRead less
Experiments with Advanced Isolation Systems, Suspension and Test Masses Using ACIGA's High Optical Power Test Facility. This proposal will allow experimental verification of the performcane of of sapphire test masses and their associated isolation and suspension system in ACIGA's high optical power test facility at Gingin. The work will contribute to the worldwide effort to increase the sensitivity of laser interferometers to the level where known sources of gravitational waves can be detected ....Experiments with Advanced Isolation Systems, Suspension and Test Masses Using ACIGA's High Optical Power Test Facility. This proposal will allow experimental verification of the performcane of of sapphire test masses and their associated isolation and suspension system in ACIGA's high optical power test facility at Gingin. The work will contribute to the worldwide effort to increase the sensitivity of laser interferometers to the level where known sources of gravitational waves can be detected at a reasonable rate.Read moreRead less
Advanced high resolution atomic force microscopy of biomolecules in physiological environments. The proposed research is intended to explain high resolution bioimaging problems addressed only phenomenologically before. A correct physical model would help the scientific community to optimise imaging of dynamic biological systems, extending our knowledge about the way living organisms function. With dynamic bioimaging, the mechanism of certain diseases such as Alzheimer's - where biomolecule fiber ....Advanced high resolution atomic force microscopy of biomolecules in physiological environments. The proposed research is intended to explain high resolution bioimaging problems addressed only phenomenologically before. A correct physical model would help the scientific community to optimise imaging of dynamic biological systems, extending our knowledge about the way living organisms function. With dynamic bioimaging, the mechanism of certain diseases such as Alzheimer's - where biomolecule fiber formation plays a key role - can also be addressed, thus the project has even therapeutical relevance. Furthermore, adequate description of liquid phase imaging can help engineers in the design of better hardware and software solutions, for the benefit of the bio-nanotechnological industry.Read moreRead less
Increasing the efficacy of laboratory x-ray sources for imaging. X-ray laboratory sources are used extensively for imaging: from the humble dental and medical x-ray to sophisticated 3D non-destructive testing methods; from the microscopic to large mechanical parts. This project will pursue methods that improve the imaging capability of such equipment with direct application across the fields of materials and medical imaging.