Liquid light: aqueous bio-sensing in microstructured polymer optical fibres. This project builds on Australia's world-leading position in the development of microstructured polymer optical fibres, and applies the unique benefits they provide to for ultra- sensitive bio-sensing. By using the microstructure to simultaneously confine light and liquid, microstructured optical fibres provide a unique platform for ultra-sensitive spectroscopy and structural studies of biomolecules in solution. The wor ....Liquid light: aqueous bio-sensing in microstructured polymer optical fibres. This project builds on Australia's world-leading position in the development of microstructured polymer optical fibres, and applies the unique benefits they provide to for ultra- sensitive bio-sensing. By using the microstructure to simultaneously confine light and liquid, microstructured optical fibres provide a unique platform for ultra-sensitive spectroscopy and structural studies of biomolecules in solution. The work has profound implications both for fundamental science and applications, particularly in medical diagnostics.Read moreRead less
Novel coherence-free photonic microwave signal processors. With the increasing bandwidth requirements of information signals, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide high-speed and high resolution systems for signal processing. The new photonic signal processors in this project will herald in a new epoch in the ability to optimally condition wideband signals, with important applications for science, business and security services. These processors will have particular impact in transcendi ....Novel coherence-free photonic microwave signal processors. With the increasing bandwidth requirements of information signals, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide high-speed and high resolution systems for signal processing. The new photonic signal processors in this project will herald in a new epoch in the ability to optimally condition wideband signals, with important applications for science, business and security services. These processors will have particular impact in transcending exisiting electronic processor limitations and in enhancing fibre-fed distributed antenna systems, with benefits to Australia in the fields of radioastronomy and radar systems in defence.Read moreRead less
Novel coherence-free microwave photonic signal processors. With the unrelenting push for increasing bandwidth requirements, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide high-performance systems for high-bandwidth signal processing. In areas such as fibre-wireless networks, radioastronomy, and defence, it is essential to pre-process the wideband fibre-fed distributed antenna signals. The new coherence-free, high-frequency, low-noise photonic signal processors, in this project have important app ....Novel coherence-free microwave photonic signal processors. With the unrelenting push for increasing bandwidth requirements, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide high-performance systems for high-bandwidth signal processing. In areas such as fibre-wireless networks, radioastronomy, and defence, it is essential to pre-process the wideband fibre-fed distributed antenna signals. The new coherence-free, high-frequency, low-noise photonic signal processors, in this project have important applications for science, business and security services. The results have widespread uses in enhancing fibre-fed distributed antenna systems, with national benefits in the fields of radioastronomy and radar systems in defence.Read moreRead less
Dynamically tunable, low-noise, discrete-time optical processing of high-speed signals. In today's society there is an unrelenting push for increasing bandwidth requirements. Thus the challenge arises to provide systems that can optimally condition high-speed signals. Many systems carry not only the desired information but also high level interference signals. Tunable interference mitigation is required to address different interferers actively while having minimal impact on the passband. The ne ....Dynamically tunable, low-noise, discrete-time optical processing of high-speed signals. In today's society there is an unrelenting push for increasing bandwidth requirements. Thus the challenge arises to provide systems that can optimally condition high-speed signals. Many systems carry not only the desired information but also high level interference signals. Tunable interference mitigation is required to address different interferers actively while having minimal impact on the passband. The new dynamically tunable photonic signal processors in this project have important applications for science, business and security services. The results have widespread uses in enhancing fibre-fed distributed antenna systems, with national benefits in the fields of radioastronomy and radar systems in defence.Read moreRead less
New paradigms for high-resolution microwave photonic signal processing. In today's society there is an unrelenting push for increasing bandwidth requirements. Thus there are unprecedented challenges to provide systems that can optimally condition high-speed signals. Many systems carry not only the desired information but also high-level interference signals. Tunable interference mitigation is essential to address different interferers actively while having minimal impact on the required signal. ....New paradigms for high-resolution microwave photonic signal processing. In today's society there is an unrelenting push for increasing bandwidth requirements. Thus there are unprecedented challenges to provide systems that can optimally condition high-speed signals. Many systems carry not only the desired information but also high-level interference signals. Tunable interference mitigation is essential to address different interferers actively while having minimal impact on the required signal. The new dynamically reconfigurable photonic signal processors in this project have important applications for science, business and security services. The results have widespread uses in enhancing fibre-fed distributed antenna systems, with national benefits in the fields of radioastronomy and radar systems in defence.Read moreRead less
New Photonics-based Interference Mitigation Filters for Radioastronomy. This project aims to study new topologies for photonics-based interference mitigation filters for radioastronomy. Its significance is that it will solve, for the first time, the problem of excising RF interfering signals from within the optical signal fibre transport systems conveying radioastronomy signals from phased array antennas. These interference suppressors are key elements in removing strong unwanted man-made signal ....New Photonics-based Interference Mitigation Filters for Radioastronomy. This project aims to study new topologies for photonics-based interference mitigation filters for radioastronomy. Its significance is that it will solve, for the first time, the problem of excising RF interfering signals from within the optical signal fibre transport systems conveying radioastronomy signals from phased array antennas. These interference suppressors are key elements in removing strong unwanted man-made signals from terrestrial transmitters and satellites that coexist, and make the detection of the very weak radioastronomy signals extremely difficult. The outcome will be new high-resolution and tunable fibre-based interference suppression filters integrable with the signal transport system, which enhance the sensitivity of radioastronomy phased arrays.Read moreRead less
Removing the blinkers: a wider study of the human eye. Peripheral aberrations, wide-field retinal imaging and optical parameters. This project will study peripheral (side vision) optics of the human eye and its role in the limits of visual performance. This will improve ocular measurements and contribute towards improved diagnosis and treatment of ocular diseases and short-sightedness.
Advanced methods for intraocular imaging. The ability to image the retina of the human eye at high resolution is fundamental to improving understanding of ocular physiology, ocular optics and disease diagnosis. This project applies the relatively new application of active optics to vision science. This project will investigate the advantages of using new beam shaping techniques for characterising the optics of the eye, improving retinal imagery and improving fixation stability. This project will ....Advanced methods for intraocular imaging. The ability to image the retina of the human eye at high resolution is fundamental to improving understanding of ocular physiology, ocular optics and disease diagnosis. This project applies the relatively new application of active optics to vision science. This project will investigate the advantages of using new beam shaping techniques for characterising the optics of the eye, improving retinal imagery and improving fixation stability. This project will achieve three-dimensional holography of human eyes and develop holography plates for correcting the aberrations of eyes. Expected outcomes are not-before experienced resolution images of the retina and better understanding of the optical characteristics of the refractive surfaces and media in the eye.Read moreRead less
Microwave-modulated optical systems for free-space and undersea communications. Although offering flexible, rapid deployment, free space and underwater comunications have not kept up with progress in optical fibre communications, and current systems are signficantly restricted in range and data rate. To address these needs, we will develop novel laser systems using coherent detection, with infrared output for eyesafe transmission in air, and blue-green output for transmission underwater. The s ....Microwave-modulated optical systems for free-space and undersea communications. Although offering flexible, rapid deployment, free space and underwater comunications have not kept up with progress in optical fibre communications, and current systems are signficantly restricted in range and data rate. To address these needs, we will develop novel laser systems using coherent detection, with infrared output for eyesafe transmission in air, and blue-green output for transmission underwater. The signal is a microwave modulation on the optical carrier, which permits longer-range transmission while maintaining signal coherence. Key advantages include increased detection sensitivity, and potential to scale up the modulation frequency and the power for higher data rates and longer propagation distance.Read moreRead less
Metal dielectric microstructures: Tuneable metamaterials to medical devices. This project aims to demonstrate tuneable metamaterials fabricated economically and in volume. Tuneability is sought after and difficult to realise. This project will switch a metamaterial from metallic to dielectric behaviour, and dynamically vary the magnification of a hyperlens. To do this, it will create a micro/nanofabrication technology platform with potential widespread uses in high technology manufacturing. It e ....Metal dielectric microstructures: Tuneable metamaterials to medical devices. This project aims to demonstrate tuneable metamaterials fabricated economically and in volume. Tuneability is sought after and difficult to realise. This project will switch a metamaterial from metallic to dielectric behaviour, and dynamically vary the magnification of a hyperlens. To do this, it will create a micro/nanofabrication technology platform with potential widespread uses in high technology manufacturing. It expects to improve multi-modal neural interfaces for optogenetic research and implantable biomedical devices such as cochlear implants.Read moreRead less