Slow light in nanostructured materials. This project will introduce and demonstrate novel concepts for dynamically controlling the speed of light and manipulating optical pulses in specially designed nanoscale structures, making an essential step towards the creation of all-optical devices performing fast switching and processing of optical signals. These developments underpin the next generation of high-performance networks, promising to revolutionize global communications. This project will ke ....Slow light in nanostructured materials. This project will introduce and demonstrate novel concepts for dynamically controlling the speed of light and manipulating optical pulses in specially designed nanoscale structures, making an essential step towards the creation of all-optical devices performing fast switching and processing of optical signals. These developments underpin the next generation of high-performance networks, promising to revolutionize global communications. This project will keep Australia at the forefront of international research and provide training of students on breakthrough applications of photonics and nanotechnology, contributing to the uptake of frontier technologies by Australian industries for successful operation in a competitive global environment.Read moreRead less
Engineering phase and the flow of light in nanophotonics. Optical devices on the scale of only billionths of a meter impel photonic revolution in information technologies. The extraordinary sensitivity and tunability of light confined on nano-scale is caused by the yet unexplored and poorly understood world of tiniest flows of energy, the optical vortices. In this project we will learn to manipulate optical vortices with the light itself, introducing original concepts for intelligent engineering ....Engineering phase and the flow of light in nanophotonics. Optical devices on the scale of only billionths of a meter impel photonic revolution in information technologies. The extraordinary sensitivity and tunability of light confined on nano-scale is caused by the yet unexplored and poorly understood world of tiniest flows of energy, the optical vortices. In this project we will learn to manipulate optical vortices with the light itself, introducing original concepts for intelligent engineering of nano-elements of a photonic chip. This project will deliver underpinning knowledge, foremost practical expertise, and the prominent training of young researchers to secure Australia's international leadership in the rapidly growing and competitive field of nanophotonics.Read moreRead less
Insight from Darkness: Nanophotonics for real-time phase imaging. This project aims to develop ultrathin surfaces patterned on the nanoscale for extracting information from optical wavefields. These devices can be designed to provide real-time phase contrast imaging of transparent objects. This capability would open up the possibility of live-cell imaging with no expensive optical components and no, or minimal, computational post-processing. The planar configuration is designed to be compatible ....Insight from Darkness: Nanophotonics for real-time phase imaging. This project aims to develop ultrathin surfaces patterned on the nanoscale for extracting information from optical wavefields. These devices can be designed to provide real-time phase contrast imaging of transparent objects. This capability would open up the possibility of live-cell imaging with no expensive optical components and no, or minimal, computational post-processing. The planar configuration is designed to be compatible with next-generation lab-on-a-chip technologies and permit rapid throughput diagnostics with potential applications in biomedicine and materials science. Expected project outcomes may also underpin fundamental advances in understanding the interaction of light with nanostructures.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the science reach of second generation interferometric gravitational wave detectors through innovative mirror design and control. Predicted by Einstein, gravitational waves promise to unlock the secrets of the universe just as seismic measurements unlocked the secrets of the Earth's interior. Scientists are on the brink of detecting these waves. This research aids that effort by developing Australian technologies which allow specific gravitational wave sources to be targeted.
Slow-light photonics. This project will introduce and demonstrate novel concepts for the manipulation of optical signals in ultra-compact photonics devices, making an essential step towards fast all-optical switching and processing of data streams. These developments underpin the next generation of high-performance networks, promising to revolutionize global communications. This project will keep Australia at the forefront of international research and provide training of students on breakthroug ....Slow-light photonics. This project will introduce and demonstrate novel concepts for the manipulation of optical signals in ultra-compact photonics devices, making an essential step towards fast all-optical switching and processing of data streams. These developments underpin the next generation of high-performance networks, promising to revolutionize global communications. This project will keep Australia at the forefront of international research and provide training of students on breakthrough applications of photonics and nanotechnology, contributing to the uptake of frontier technologies by Australian industries for successful operation in a competitive global environment.Read moreRead less
Rogue waves in oceans and optical fibres. Rogue waves can sink large ships in the ocean. They appear more commonly than previously thought. Optical rogue waves, the laboratory counterparts of extreme ocean waves, will allow the project to study the main features of the phenomenon, provide the theoretical explanation for their existence and potentially help to eliminate these catastrophic events.
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
Non-Gaussian states and entanglement distillation for Continuous Variable quantum information protocols. Amplifiers are important devices for electronic, computer as well as telecommunication industries. In the quantum world where light's corpuscular nature is prominent, amplification of a beam of light will have its associated noise penalty. This noise penalty sets limit to many quantum optical applications. This proposal aims to use a method based on conditional detection to realize a 'noisel ....Non-Gaussian states and entanglement distillation for Continuous Variable quantum information protocols. Amplifiers are important devices for electronic, computer as well as telecommunication industries. In the quantum world where light's corpuscular nature is prominent, amplification of a beam of light will have its associated noise penalty. This noise penalty sets limit to many quantum optical applications. This proposal aims to use a method based on conditional detection to realize a 'noiseless linear amplifier' that has no noise penalty probabilistically. Realization of this key device is central to extending the range of quantum communication, such as quantum cryptography. It also has applications in quantum computing and the potential to enhance sensitive measurements.Read moreRead less
Quantum and atom optics. The applicant leads a highly successful group of young investigators, achieving internationally acclaimed work in quantum optics. Photonics technology is now at the brink of using the full advantage of quantum mechanics, through the concept of quantum information in optical and atomic systems. The experiments at the ANU group can provide new applications to the photonics industry, in particular in communication, sensing and microscopy. The proposed work is expected to ....Quantum and atom optics. The applicant leads a highly successful group of young investigators, achieving internationally acclaimed work in quantum optics. Photonics technology is now at the brink of using the full advantage of quantum mechanics, through the concept of quantum information in optical and atomic systems. The experiments at the ANU group can provide new applications to the photonics industry, in particular in communication, sensing and microscopy. The proposed work is expected to create fundamental research and generate future commercial opportunities in an area where Australian science is at the leading edge of research and the international demand is rising.Read moreRead less
Advances in Quantum Imaging and Quantum Memory using Squeezed Light and Entanglement. Maintaining a leading position in fundamental research will always result in directly related technologies or spin-offs. Being the first to demonstrate a Quantum Memory and spatial entanglement will guarantee Australia a leading role in two promising quantum research fields. High sensitive position measurements as used in Atomic Force Microscopy can directly benefit from developments of this project. The demons ....Advances in Quantum Imaging and Quantum Memory using Squeezed Light and Entanglement. Maintaining a leading position in fundamental research will always result in directly related technologies or spin-offs. Being the first to demonstrate a Quantum Memory and spatial entanglement will guarantee Australia a leading role in two promising quantum research fields. High sensitive position measurements as used in Atomic Force Microscopy can directly benefit from developments of this project. The demonstration of a Quantum Memory for continuous variables will boost the progress in the realisation of a future quantum network. The participation at a high level in the Quantum research community will bring worldwide recognition to Australia.Read moreRead less