Bright x-ray beams from laser-driven microplasmas. This project aims to develop a new generation of bright, laser-like x-ray sources for laboratory use. X-ray sources underpin key diagnostic techniques in materials science, advancing applications from structural engineering through to ore processing and energy storage. However, the limited brightness of present-day laboratory x-ray sources restricts the utility and range of these diagnostic techniques. This research intends to use intense lasers ....Bright x-ray beams from laser-driven microplasmas. This project aims to develop a new generation of bright, laser-like x-ray sources for laboratory use. X-ray sources underpin key diagnostic techniques in materials science, advancing applications from structural engineering through to ore processing and energy storage. However, the limited brightness of present-day laboratory x-ray sources restricts the utility and range of these diagnostic techniques. This research intends to use intense lasers to create microscopic plasmas and drive high harmonic generation. The high harmonic generation process is already used to create laser-like ultraviolet light. By optimising the characteristics of the plasma medium, the project aims to extend bright high harmonic generation to the x-ray regime.Read moreRead less
Diamond-based Ultra Violet (UV)-emitting devices. The development of UV-emitting solid state devices will enable new applications and drive rapid growth of new industries in particular in health care (sterilisation), microelectronics (lithography) and high-density data storage. With its deep expertise in photonics, Australia is well positioned to become a significant player in these industries. This collaborative project, involving academic and industrial partners, seeks to leverage Australian s ....Diamond-based Ultra Violet (UV)-emitting devices. The development of UV-emitting solid state devices will enable new applications and drive rapid growth of new industries in particular in health care (sterilisation), microelectronics (lithography) and high-density data storage. With its deep expertise in photonics, Australia is well positioned to become a significant player in these industries. This collaborative project, involving academic and industrial partners, seeks to leverage Australian scientific expertise to create new hybrid diamond/nitride structures potentially capable of emitting UV-radiation with high-efficiency and power. The outcomes will help seed new industry and economic growth in Australia.Read moreRead less
Optical fibre devices for sideways delivery of laser light during keyhole surgery. Mulitmode optical fibres are typically used to deliver high power laser light which is emitted from the end of the fibre to irradiate tissue during surgery. For intravenous delivery of laser light in the treatment of cardiac fibrillation (heart flutter) we require a sideways-directed illuminating beam. However reliable methods of delivering high power laser light in a sideways-directed beam are not currently avai ....Optical fibre devices for sideways delivery of laser light during keyhole surgery. Mulitmode optical fibres are typically used to deliver high power laser light which is emitted from the end of the fibre to irradiate tissue during surgery. For intravenous delivery of laser light in the treatment of cardiac fibrillation (heart flutter) we require a sideways-directed illuminating beam. However reliable methods of delivering high power laser light in a sideways-directed beam are not currently available. Using the ultraviolet laser fibre processing expertise already developed at Macquarie University, we propose to develop and characterise novel fibre-based devices which would allow controllable delivery of light sideways.Read moreRead less
A new nano-sensor technology for the detection and identification of residual vapours of explosives, drugs and chemicals in the air. Fighting terrorism and crime is one of the most important and difficult tasks that requires substantial human and technological resources. This project will help to address this enormous problem by developing a new optical sensor technology for the detection and identification of traces of chemicals, explosives, drugs and biological agents. It will develop a labora ....A new nano-sensor technology for the detection and identification of residual vapours of explosives, drugs and chemicals in the air. Fighting terrorism and crime is one of the most important and difficult tasks that requires substantial human and technological resources. This project will help to address this enormous problem by developing a new optical sensor technology for the detection and identification of traces of chemicals, explosives, drugs and biological agents. It will develop a laboratory prototype of this sensor that is expected to have superior sensitivity and operational capabilities. Thus it will noticeably contribute to practical law enforcement, air quality and environmental monitoring, counter-terrorism, air safety, border security and customs service. It will also lead to further development of nano-optics and nanotechnology in Australia. 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
Development of a Novel and Quantitative Approach to Phase Imaging with Applications to Functional Nanomaterials. This project will improve and apply an innovative approach to obtaining phase information from electron microscopy images, currently being commercialised by IATIA Ltd. We will develop the approach so that it is fully quantitative, even at the nanoscale, and explore the effect of experimental parameters such as beam coherence, aberrations, specimen contamination and diffraction. We wil ....Development of a Novel and Quantitative Approach to Phase Imaging with Applications to Functional Nanomaterials. This project will improve and apply an innovative approach to obtaining phase information from electron microscopy images, currently being commercialised by IATIA Ltd. We will develop the approach so that it is fully quantitative, even at the nanoscale, and explore the effect of experimental parameters such as beam coherence, aberrations, specimen contamination and diffraction. We will apply the method to both physical and molecular nanomaterials, including a new class of self-organising molecules. Phase imaging can visualise the structures, polarities, charge and conductivity distributions in these materials and so assist in the development of new materials and devices.Read moreRead less
Low power optical limiting for laser receiver protection. This project will place Australia as one of the leaders in the world in both science and technology of soft glass Photonic Band Gap Fibres, which is an enabling field of research with enormous number applications in Medicine, Defence, communication, etc. The project will develop a critical component (receiver protection) for laser range finders, which are widely being used in defence industries, therefore having national benefit in terms ....Low power optical limiting for laser receiver protection. This project will place Australia as one of the leaders in the world in both science and technology of soft glass Photonic Band Gap Fibres, which is an enabling field of research with enormous number applications in Medicine, Defence, communication, etc. The project will develop a critical component (receiver protection) for laser range finders, which are widely being used in defence industries, therefore having national benefit in terms of safeguarding Australia. The project will also be an excellent vehicle for educating young physicists and engineers in Australia. This is of national importance in itself due to the current shortage of photonics physicists.Read moreRead less
The Development of High Power Cryo-Cooled Lasers and Their Application to Remote Sensing and Other Satelite-based Data Acquisition. We shall develop high power cryo-cooled lasers which will contribute directly to the national research priorities in Frontier Technologies and Safe Guarding Australia. In particular it will contribute to photonics, to remote sensing of the environment and to space based defence and surveillance applications. It will establish Australia as a pioneer in the field and ....The Development of High Power Cryo-Cooled Lasers and Their Application to Remote Sensing and Other Satelite-based Data Acquisition. We shall develop high power cryo-cooled lasers which will contribute directly to the national research priorities in Frontier Technologies and Safe Guarding Australia. In particular it will contribute to photonics, to remote sensing of the environment and to space based defence and surveillance applications. It will establish Australia as a pioneer in the field and generate important IP. It will be of benefit to Australian and international laser and defence industry, and it will be an ideal project for educating young laser physicists and engineers, of which there currently is a serious shortage in Australia.Read moreRead less
Technologies for advanced optical fibre sensors. This project is to create a significantly better technology for exploration of oil and gas reserves under the ocean. Based on lasers and fibre optics, it leverages Australia's prodigious photonics expertise and couples it with Australia's established and well-regarded resource industry. Successful completion will enable better utilization of this country's natural resources, in particular oil and gas reserves, whilst also creating a high technolog ....Technologies for advanced optical fibre sensors. This project is to create a significantly better technology for exploration of oil and gas reserves under the ocean. Based on lasers and fibre optics, it leverages Australia's prodigious photonics expertise and couples it with Australia's established and well-regarded resource industry. Successful completion will enable better utilization of this country's natural resources, in particular oil and gas reserves, whilst also creating a high technology export, given the size of the world marine survey market (US$4 billion). Better energy exploration technologies are vital to Australia and, indeed the world, as energy supply dwindles and the increased energy costs begin to impact negatively on economic growth.Read moreRead less
Electronic properties of diamondlike carbon for applications in planar optical waveguides. This project will explore new applications of diamondlike carbon in the area of integrated optics for telecommunications systems. Diamondlike carbon offers opportunities to create novel electro-optic devices owing to its high refractive index and its ability to be deposited directly onto silicon substrates. This project will conduct a thorough study of the electronic properties of diamondlike carbon depo ....Electronic properties of diamondlike carbon for applications in planar optical waveguides. This project will explore new applications of diamondlike carbon in the area of integrated optics for telecommunications systems. Diamondlike carbon offers opportunities to create novel electro-optic devices owing to its high refractive index and its ability to be deposited directly onto silicon substrates. This project will conduct a thorough study of the electronic properties of diamondlike carbon deposited by two techniques and develop potential niche applications in the $5 billion integrated optical telecommunications devices. The work will combine fundamental studies of thin film electronic properties with leading edge industry applications of technology and provide an excellent research training opportunity.Read moreRead less