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
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
Multi-dimensional optical data storage based on nanophotonics - the third generation optical data storage technology. The key-sector in high tech markets has been the photonics industry over the last decade, and it will continue to revolutionise our ways of information storage, processing and transfer for the next 10 to 20 years. The current project of high-capacity Petabyte optical data storage, i.e the third generation optical data storage, will prove to be the key technological innovation in ....Multi-dimensional optical data storage based on nanophotonics - the third generation optical data storage technology. The key-sector in high tech markets has been the photonics industry over the last decade, and it will continue to revolutionise our ways of information storage, processing and transfer for the next 10 to 20 years. The current project of high-capacity Petabyte optical data storage, i.e the third generation optical data storage, will prove to be the key technological innovation in photonics (one of the National Research Priorities), which will not only meet the growing demands of the consumer market, but also continue to drive the industry and create new markets. This is in line with the Priority Goals set by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, as it will put Australia into the unique position in the information age. Read moreRead less
Nano-photonic fabrication and storage using near-field super-resolving probes. The aim of the project is to develop a novel near-field storage device and nano-fabrication instruments, which are based on the super-resolution technique. As a result, the new storage device has a density 100 times of the current DVD technology. The nano-fabrication techniques can be used for all optics devices of nanometer resolution for fast information transferring. This project extends the key developments in t ....Nano-photonic fabrication and storage using near-field super-resolving probes. The aim of the project is to develop a novel near-field storage device and nano-fabrication instruments, which are based on the super-resolution technique. As a result, the new storage device has a density 100 times of the current DVD technology. The nano-fabrication techniques can be used for all optics devices of nanometer resolution for fast information transferring. This project extends the key developments in the field of nano-photonics and will put Australia in a uniquely strong position in the internationally competitive information technology field.Read moreRead less
Development of three-dimensional high-density optical data storage and photonic crystals in photo-polymers with a superresolution imaging system. The aim of this project is to develop a three-dimensional (3-D) high-density optical data storage method and photonic crystals in photo-polymers using a superresolution imaging system. As a result, it is possible to produce a 3-D data density of approximately 10 Tbits/cm3 in low-cost and erasable photo-polymers, equivalent to 3000 times the information ....Development of three-dimensional high-density optical data storage and photonic crystals in photo-polymers with a superresolution imaging system. The aim of this project is to develop a three-dimensional (3-D) high-density optical data storage method and photonic crystals in photo-polymers using a superresolution imaging system. As a result, it is possible to produce a 3-D data density of approximately 10 Tbits/cm3 in low-cost and erasable photo-polymers, equivalent to 3000 times the information in a current digital video disc (DVD). 3-D polymer-based photonic crystals will provide fast, low-cost and compact all-optics devices for optical computing technology. Consequently, the capacity and speed of information super-highways will be significantly increased, which enhances the internationally competitive ability of Australia in information technology.Read moreRead less
Frozen linear and nonlinear light. Frozen light refers to the observation that light inside particular media can be much brighter than outside it, essentially because it bounced around many times before leaving. Such light has many advantages which have applications in optical signal processing, lasers, and in other optical devices. Until now frozen light has only been studied in a small range of geometries and only at low intensities. In this fundamental research project we will investigate fr ....Frozen linear and nonlinear light. Frozen light refers to the observation that light inside particular media can be much brighter than outside it, essentially because it bounced around many times before leaving. Such light has many advantages which have applications in optical signal processing, lasers, and in other optical devices. Until now frozen light has only been studied in a small range of geometries and only at low intensities. In this fundamental research project we will investigate frozen light, its generation and its properties at low and high intensities, systematically, and we will assess how it can be harnessed for potential applications.Read moreRead less
Light-matter interactions using optical fibres. This program will allow Australia to build on established excellence in photonics to extend the impact of optical fibres beyond telecommunications to applications throughout the sciences. Pioneering work on materials and structures will form a platform technology enabling innovations in areas as diverse as water quality monitoring and corrosion detection. In addition, new optical fibres will be developed for the needs of the Australian Defence Forc ....Light-matter interactions using optical fibres. This program will allow Australia to build on established excellence in photonics to extend the impact of optical fibres beyond telecommunications to applications throughout the sciences. Pioneering work on materials and structures will form a platform technology enabling innovations in areas as diverse as water quality monitoring and corrosion detection. In addition, new optical fibres will be developed for the needs of the Australian Defence Force and associated industries. Fibre-based approaches to problems in biology will ultimately lead to an improved understanding of molecular structures and new tools for manipulating biomolecules.Read moreRead less
Optical and matter-wave vortices in nonlinear and inhomogeneous media. Wave phenomena of diverse nature have a strikingly similar feature of vorticity, with the energy or matter spiralling around isolated phase singularities. This project targets the fundamental theoretical research in an interdisciplinary field of singular waves transporting vortices in nonlinear and inhomogeneous media. Our project will contribute to the designated priority area "Frontier Technologies for Building and Transfor ....Optical and matter-wave vortices in nonlinear and inhomogeneous media. Wave phenomena of diverse nature have a strikingly similar feature of vorticity, with the energy or matter spiralling around isolated phase singularities. This project targets the fundamental theoretical research in an interdisciplinary field of singular waves transporting vortices in nonlinear and inhomogeneous media. Our project will contribute to the designated priority area "Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries" by providing fundamental understanding of novel physical phenomena and underpinning technological advances in the fields of photonics, atom, and electron optics, where Australia has built strong expertise and plays a significant role in the international development.Read moreRead less
Non-Interferometric Phase Measurement of Exotic Waves. Phase is a key concept in all aspects of physics from biological microscopy through to length measurement and on to industrial inspection. The University of Melbourne has developed a new class of phase measurement techniques that possesses unprecedented flexibility. The aim of this project is to build on the international leadership of the Australian team so as to fully explore and develop these techniques.
Nonlinear photonic crystal fabrication in a high refractive index lithium niobate crystal. The method proposed in this project is a very promising and versatile method to achieve 3D nonlinear PhCs in a high refractive index material. This project will expand the national knowledge in the area of nonlinear PhCs. The successful compensation of the spherical aberration will advance the optical microfabrication technique. It is expected that the project will provide many chances for postgraduate stu ....Nonlinear photonic crystal fabrication in a high refractive index lithium niobate crystal. The method proposed in this project is a very promising and versatile method to achieve 3D nonlinear PhCs in a high refractive index material. This project will expand the national knowledge in the area of nonlinear PhCs. The successful compensation of the spherical aberration will advance the optical microfabrication technique. It is expected that the project will provide many chances for postgraduate students to become involved. Some newly developed devices based on nonlinear PhCs may find their commercial applications and we have a chance of securing the intellectual property related to these applications. In a long term, nonlinear PCs may be widely used in daily life and provide some opportunities to the industries.Read moreRead less