Routing shapes of light for the next generation of fibre optic networks. In 2016, the United Nations declared access to the Internet as basic human right. Our communication networks are facing a capacity crunch, which will transform a basic human right for everyone into a privilege for a few. This project aims to avoid a capacity crunch by creating innovative solutions for the next generation of optical fibre communication networks. This project stands to generate new knowledge in photonics, opt ....Routing shapes of light for the next generation of fibre optic networks. In 2016, the United Nations declared access to the Internet as basic human right. Our communication networks are facing a capacity crunch, which will transform a basic human right for everyone into a privilege for a few. This project aims to avoid a capacity crunch by creating innovative solutions for the next generation of optical fibre communication networks. This project stands to generate new knowledge in photonics, optical communication and advanced manufacturing. The expected benefits are new academic collaborations, enhancing Australia’s international standing and economic benefit through commercialisation and training of students for the growing photonics industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
The development of novel and tunable metamaterials. Metamaterials are designed materials with properties that cannot be found in nature. This project uses a new disruptive design that allows broadband metamaterials to be made using mass production techniques. The design opens up a range of new applications in environmental and medical sensing, improved security screening and active devices.
Advanced Hybrid Fibres for Functional Biomedical Imaging. This project expects to develop new techniques and devices for biomedical imaging. Biomedical imaging is widely used for medical diagnosis and treatment, with different types of imaging providing different information. This project aims to develop techniques that will allow imaging using safer nonionising terahertz radiation, with better resolution than ever before. It plans to combine this with optical, visible and infrared imaging to gi ....Advanced Hybrid Fibres for Functional Biomedical Imaging. This project expects to develop new techniques and devices for biomedical imaging. Biomedical imaging is widely used for medical diagnosis and treatment, with different types of imaging providing different information. This project aims to develop techniques that will allow imaging using safer nonionising terahertz radiation, with better resolution than ever before. It plans to combine this with optical, visible and infrared imaging to give very broad spectral information. It also aims to develop probes for direct interfacing to tissue to collect and deliver electrical signals, light and fluids, and to image neural activity. The intended outcome of the project is to allow single cancer cells within tissue to be identified to allow early stage cancer detection, and to develop implantable devices for neuroscience research and pain management.Read moreRead less
Understanding nature with twisted photons. Technological and scientific advances occur due to new tools being used to explore nature. This project will give Australia the world leadership in the study of nature through the use of twisted photons. This new tool may open the door to answer fundamental questions about the universe.
Optical fibre nanophotonics for sensing. This project will develop a new generation of chemical and biological optical waveguide sensors for monitoring energy consumption and the environment, including water and health, that are compatible with SmartGrids. This will be done through an understanding of the evanescent field and its control on the nanoscale, together with advanced material research.
How do galaxies get their gas? This project aims to build new understanding about the fundamental physics behind how galaxies get their gas. The way gas is accreted in galaxies affects how stars are made and what galaxies look like, including our own milky way. This project expects to build a new robotic instrument for three dimensional spectroscopy of galaxies, called Hector-I, to establish and run the Hector Galaxy Survey, the largest of its kind ever conducted. This survey data set will under ....How do galaxies get their gas? This project aims to build new understanding about the fundamental physics behind how galaxies get their gas. The way gas is accreted in galaxies affects how stars are made and what galaxies look like, including our own milky way. This project expects to build a new robotic instrument for three dimensional spectroscopy of galaxies, called Hector-I, to establish and run the Hector Galaxy Survey, the largest of its kind ever conducted. This survey data set will underpin broad investigations of gas accretion and the impact on the physical properties of galaxies. The project will clarify why our own galaxy looks so different to others, demonstrate Australian technologies for future commercialisation on international facilities, and train students for a high quality workforce.Read moreRead less
Broadband compensation of nonlinear signal distortion in optical fibre communications. This project will investigate novel optical technologies for overcoming the approaching data capacity limits of global optical communication networks that are caused by transmission errors from nonlinear signal distortion in optical fibre. The research will show that light propagation through specially designed waveguides can cancel the distortion.
Super-Resolution Nanothermometry on Live Cells. This project aims to deliver new temperature sensors and advance the field of nanothermometry beyond its optical diffraction limit and current reliability issues. The project expects to forge a new way to study organelle metabolism and functional interactions by creating a super-resolution heat map of living cells. Expected outcomes include new knowledge of ionic energy transfer among lanthanide ions, innovative super-resolution imaging nanothermom ....Super-Resolution Nanothermometry on Live Cells. This project aims to deliver new temperature sensors and advance the field of nanothermometry beyond its optical diffraction limit and current reliability issues. The project expects to forge a new way to study organelle metabolism and functional interactions by creating a super-resolution heat map of living cells. Expected outcomes include new knowledge of ionic energy transfer among lanthanide ions, innovative super-resolution imaging nanothermometers, new biochemistry and cell biology protocols, and spectroscopy and microscopy instruments. The adoption of these outcomes in new technologies should provide significant benefits in cell biology research, life sciences, engineering sciences and Australia’s imaging and sensor industries.Read moreRead less
Beyond Spectral Detection: Engineering SUPER Dot Probes for High-Throughput Discovery. Molecules that are altered as a result of a pathological condition are generally present in very low abundance, and pose a “needle-in-a-haystack” problem. Current detection, quantification and localisation technologies use fluorescent probes that are limited by sensitivity and analysis time. This project will develop a new generation of nanophotonic luminescent probes (Strong Upconversion Photo-stable Encoded ....Beyond Spectral Detection: Engineering SUPER Dot Probes for High-Throughput Discovery. Molecules that are altered as a result of a pathological condition are generally present in very low abundance, and pose a “needle-in-a-haystack” problem. Current detection, quantification and localisation technologies use fluorescent probes that are limited by sensitivity and analysis time. This project will develop a new generation of nanophotonic luminescent probes (Strong Upconversion Photo-stable Encoded nano-Radiators (SUPER) Dots), based on purpose-engineered up-conversion nanocrystals that are ultra-bright and have low background interference, high specificity, speed, and large-scale multiplexing capacity. These probes will allow microscopy and flow cytometry to measure hitherto undetectable rare-event molecules and cells, opening new frontiers for the discovery of new biomarkers.Read moreRead less
Designing a spectrometer to search for life on extrasolar planets. Finding indicators of life on extrasolar planets is one of the greatest science questions of our time. Astronomers have found rocky, earth-like exoplanets; now we need powerful spectrometers to search for biomarkers in their atmospheres, detecting the faint imprints from molecules associated with life in the colour spectrum of stars. This project will develop the instruments and technologies required to enable spectroscopy with m ....Designing a spectrometer to search for life on extrasolar planets. Finding indicators of life on extrasolar planets is one of the greatest science questions of our time. Astronomers have found rocky, earth-like exoplanets; now we need powerful spectrometers to search for biomarkers in their atmospheres, detecting the faint imprints from molecules associated with life in the colour spectrum of stars. This project will develop the instruments and technologies required to enable spectroscopy with massively multiplexed telescopes. A spectrometer design with large spectral bandwidth and high resolution, optimised for a facility consisting of thousands of small telescopes, and novel optical fibres to link them, will open the door for breakthrough science requiring an entirely new class of telescope.Read moreRead less