Next-Generation Optical Broadband Access for Rural and Regional Areas. Broadband services in less densely populated areas are a high priority for the Australian government as shown by the $1.1 billion 'Broadband Connect' program. Current commercial broadband access in less densely populated areas is both limited and expensive. Both CUBIN and NEC are committed to developing solutions that enable truly broadband services. NEC Australia's large research and development capability is unique and it, ....Next-Generation Optical Broadband Access for Rural and Regional Areas. Broadband services in less densely populated areas are a high priority for the Australian government as shown by the $1.1 billion 'Broadband Connect' program. Current commercial broadband access in less densely populated areas is both limited and expensive. Both CUBIN and NEC are committed to developing solutions that enable truly broadband services. NEC Australia's large research and development capability is unique and it, together with CUBIN, will convert this research into national benefits including:
-Creating new knowledge and innovation
-Attracting foreign investment and promoting exports
-Training high quality post-doctoral researchers and postgraduate students
-Supporting job creation and retaining talented people in AustraliaRead moreRead less
Optomechanical refrigeration of electronic circuits. The project aims to apply laser light to reduce the temperature of electronic circuits. This aims to greatly suppress electronic noise, and enable a new class of technologies for future telecommunication systems. By developing new techniques to confine light, electric fields and vibrations at sub-micron scale on a silicon chip, devices such as ultralow noise amplifiers, clocks and radio frequency receivers will be realised, along with ultra-ef ....Optomechanical refrigeration of electronic circuits. The project aims to apply laser light to reduce the temperature of electronic circuits. This aims to greatly suppress electronic noise, and enable a new class of technologies for future telecommunication systems. By developing new techniques to confine light, electric fields and vibrations at sub-micron scale on a silicon chip, devices such as ultralow noise amplifiers, clocks and radio frequency receivers will be realised, along with ultra-efficient optical modulators. In future, these technologies could reduce energy consumption and improve reliability in telecommunication networks. They could improve the range of satellite communication, robustness of GPS against cosmic radiation, and performance of surveillance systems such as radar and sonar.Read moreRead less
Meta-optics systems for driver-fatigue monitoring. The project aims to develop novel miniaturised optical systems for driver fatigue monitoring, which provide increased sensitivity, eliminate reflections from eyeglasses and enable accurate depth measurements of facial features. The unique performance of our optical systems is derived from the concept of optical nanostructured surfaces to allow for efficient control of light wavefront and polarisation. The project aims to apply this concept to de ....Meta-optics systems for driver-fatigue monitoring. The project aims to develop novel miniaturised optical systems for driver fatigue monitoring, which provide increased sensitivity, eliminate reflections from eyeglasses and enable accurate depth measurements of facial features. The unique performance of our optical systems is derived from the concept of optical nanostructured surfaces to allow for efficient control of light wavefront and polarisation. The project aims to apply this concept to develop six different optical elements with new functionalities and performance well beyond what is possible with conventional components. This development will enable the construction of high-performance driver monitoring systems, thus facilitating a safer driving experience for all.Read moreRead less
Hybrid radiofrequency/optical catheter for effective atrial fibrillation ablation. This research project aims to advance engineering knowledge by applying an innovative, fibre-optics-based discrete optical coherence tomography to technology used for atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. RadioFrequency catheter-based ablation is far superior to cardiac drug therapy for atrial fibrillation patients. RadioFrequency catheters are not equipped with real-time lesion formation monitoring means, which ....Hybrid radiofrequency/optical catheter for effective atrial fibrillation ablation. This research project aims to advance engineering knowledge by applying an innovative, fibre-optics-based discrete optical coherence tomography to technology used for atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. RadioFrequency catheter-based ablation is far superior to cardiac drug therapy for atrial fibrillation patients. RadioFrequency catheters are not equipped with real-time lesion formation monitoring means, which enable the assessment of continuity-transmurality and prevent extra-cardiac complications, such as steam pops. Optical Coherece Tomography enables non-invasive, microscopic lesion formation assessment in real time during atrial fibrillation ablation procedures. The expected outcomes of this project are to develop a new hybrid fibre-optic/RadioFrequency catheter system and user-friendly driving software that will enable cardiac electrophysiologists to perform three key tasks not previously available.Read moreRead less
Photonic Antenna: Nested multi-band patch antenna and arrayed photonic interconnect. This project aims to investigate the design of a broadband ?photonic antenna? for airborne radar warning and electronic countermeasure systems. The project will investigate the development of a suite of printed antennas that cover bands in the range from 2-40 GHz realised on a single substrate. Nesting these antennas to reduce system size, and integration of this module with a custom optical modulator array and ....Photonic Antenna: Nested multi-band patch antenna and arrayed photonic interconnect. This project aims to investigate the design of a broadband ?photonic antenna? for airborne radar warning and electronic countermeasure systems. The project will investigate the development of a suite of printed antennas that cover bands in the range from 2-40 GHz realised on a single substrate. Nesting these antennas to reduce system size, and integration of this module with a custom optical modulator array and RF signal combiner will be investigated. The resulting broadband antenna suite with photonic interconnect will require minimal fabrication and packaging resources, and will thus be an economically viable photonic solution for practical defence systems.Read moreRead less
Multimodal retinal imaging provides "insight" into cerebrovascular ageing. Multimodal retinal imaging provides "insight" into cerebrovascular ageing. This project aims to develop a multi-modal imaging technology platform to simultaneously measure amyloid beta and its neurovascular sequelae to identify novel early biomarkers of ageing in the eye and brain. The growing ageing population is an increasing socioeconomic burden. The central nervous system is particularly susceptible to ageing, which i ....Multimodal retinal imaging provides "insight" into cerebrovascular ageing. Multimodal retinal imaging provides "insight" into cerebrovascular ageing. This project aims to develop a multi-modal imaging technology platform to simultaneously measure amyloid beta and its neurovascular sequelae to identify novel early biomarkers of ageing in the eye and brain. The growing ageing population is an increasing socioeconomic burden. The central nervous system is particularly susceptible to ageing, which is difficult to measure at its onset. Critically, as the eye is an easily accessible extension of the cortex, retinal imaging may be a non-invasive surrogate to assess ageing changes in the brain. Anticipated outcomes are a sensitive detector of neural ageing, improved preventative measures, reducing the socioeconomic burden of ageing, and improved quality of life.Read moreRead less
Enabling next-generation high-efficiency visible laser sources through advanced waveguide engineering. Lithium niobate has the potential to become the silicon of the optoelectronic industry. In order to realise its potential, fundamental problems associated with long term stability and cost of integration need to be solved. This project will develop a new hybrid fabrication platform that circumvents the traditional approaches pursued in the past for introducing waveguides into a lithium niobate ....Enabling next-generation high-efficiency visible laser sources through advanced waveguide engineering. Lithium niobate has the potential to become the silicon of the optoelectronic industry. In order to realise its potential, fundamental problems associated with long term stability and cost of integration need to be solved. This project will develop a new hybrid fabrication platform that circumvents the traditional approaches pursued in the past for introducing waveguides into a lithium niobate chip. This platform will enable the production of robust, low cost light sources for fields as diverse as biotechnology, environmental sensing and displays. This project will lead to new IP that will establish Australia as a leader in this field.Read moreRead less
Optical parametric amplifiers with exceptional qualities using highly nonlinear optical fibre. Current optical fibre networks use only a fraction of their capacity. This is in part because optical amplifiers with enough bandwidth do not exist. However, it will soon become necessary to exploit all of this capacity. This project will create a new highly nonlinear optical fibre with very low loss and tailored dispersion properties. This will then be used to make an optical fibre parametric ampli ....Optical parametric amplifiers with exceptional qualities using highly nonlinear optical fibre. Current optical fibre networks use only a fraction of their capacity. This is in part because optical amplifiers with enough bandwidth do not exist. However, it will soon become necessary to exploit all of this capacity. This project will create a new highly nonlinear optical fibre with very low loss and tailored dispersion properties. This will then be used to make an optical fibre parametric amplifier with a world record bandwidth, which will enable the full capacity of optical fibre to be exploited.Read moreRead less
Deep-ultraviolet light source by frequency doubling of blue or green light for disinfection. Current ultraviolet light sources are inefficient and often bulky. By an alternative approach, in which the wavelength of blue or green light is halved, this project will design and build compact, efficient sources of ultraviolet light, which can be used for disinfection and sterilization. Such devices can be fabricated by Australian industry in Australia.
Interferometric Distributed Feedback Fibre Laser Sensors. This project will solve important problems in realising next generation underwater optical fibre sensor systems for defence and marine exploration. OFTC's expertise in specialty optical fibre and devices will be combined with Thales' expertise in underwater sensor systems to give Australia a global lead. The benefits are commercial, national security and research standing. Domestic manufacture of a major optical system will assist maturat ....Interferometric Distributed Feedback Fibre Laser Sensors. This project will solve important problems in realising next generation underwater optical fibre sensor systems for defence and marine exploration. OFTC's expertise in specialty optical fibre and devices will be combined with Thales' expertise in underwater sensor systems to give Australia a global lead. The benefits are commercial, national security and research standing. Domestic manufacture of a major optical system will assist maturation of the sector which is dominated by component companies. This system for underwater surveillance is obviously important to a country with a large coastline to defend. This project will build Australia's global reputation renowned for research excellence in fibre and fibre devices.Read moreRead less