Understanding how the brain uses sensory information to guide reaching and grasping movements. Reaching, grasping and manipulating objects are crucial aspects of our daily lives, which are performed so effortlessly that they tend to be taken for granted. We know however that these functions take a relatively long time to mature (think of a baby learning how to get an object), and that they can be impaired by brain lesions involving a region called the posterior parietal cortex. We also know that ....Understanding how the brain uses sensory information to guide reaching and grasping movements. Reaching, grasping and manipulating objects are crucial aspects of our daily lives, which are performed so effortlessly that they tend to be taken for granted. We know however that these functions take a relatively long time to mature (think of a baby learning how to get an object), and that they can be impaired by brain lesions involving a region called the posterior parietal cortex. We also know that this region has multiple subdivisions, but how exactly these interact in allowing the sensory information to guide arm and hand muscles is unknown. Discovering how this happens in terms of cellular interaction can have profound implications for the creation of new technologies such as artificial limbs and autonomous robots, and result in health benefits.Read moreRead less
Coherent Optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing. Coherent optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (CO-OFDM) incorporates the benefits of OFDM to compensate for distortion and monitor the channel conditions in long-haul optical links. The advantages of CO-OFDM can help meet the challenges of future optical networks that Australia depends upon for its information infrastructure and economic growth. Australia is currently at the forefront of optical OFDM technology, and the ....Coherent Optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing. Coherent optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (CO-OFDM) incorporates the benefits of OFDM to compensate for distortion and monitor the channel conditions in long-haul optical links. The advantages of CO-OFDM can help meet the challenges of future optical networks that Australia depends upon for its information infrastructure and economic growth. Australia is currently at the forefront of optical OFDM technology, and the continuation of these research activities will further improve Australia's international ICT reputation. Furthermore, in the course of the project, a senior research associate and multiple highly-skilled students will be trained and exposed to techniques and innovations in this exciting field.Read moreRead less
Fibre Bragg grating microstructures: a novel sensing tool? This project seeks to produce novel optical fibre sensors based on in-fibre Bragg gratings that will find applications in the measurement of transverse strain. The development of improved measurement techniques provides for better monitoring of industrial processes that will provide greater efficiency and safety, and thereby significant annual cost savings and improved safety.
Nonlinear photonic crystal fabrication in a high refractive index lithium niobate crystal. The method proposed in this project is a very promising and versatile method to achieve 3D nonlinear PhCs in a high refractive index material. This project will expand the national knowledge in the area of nonlinear PhCs. The successful compensation of the spherical aberration will advance the optical microfabrication technique. It is expected that the project will provide many chances for postgraduate stu ....Nonlinear photonic crystal fabrication in a high refractive index lithium niobate crystal. The method proposed in this project is a very promising and versatile method to achieve 3D nonlinear PhCs in a high refractive index material. This project will expand the national knowledge in the area of nonlinear PhCs. The successful compensation of the spherical aberration will advance the optical microfabrication technique. It is expected that the project will provide many chances for postgraduate students to become involved. Some newly developed devices based on nonlinear PhCs may find their commercial applications and we have a chance of securing the intellectual property related to these applications. In a long term, nonlinear PCs may be widely used in daily life and provide some opportunities to the industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668381
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$750,000.00
Summary
Foundational National Nanotechnology Infrastructure. Breakthough nanotechnologies based on quantum mechanics promise useful devices for absolutely secure transmission of information encoded in quantum states, ultra-rapid searching through genome databases for unique gene sequences, faster electronic and photonic devices, robust devices made from diamond and better processing of biomedical materials for diagnosis of illness. Fabrication and characterization of these devices provides training for ....Foundational National Nanotechnology Infrastructure. Breakthough nanotechnologies based on quantum mechanics promise useful devices for absolutely secure transmission of information encoded in quantum states, ultra-rapid searching through genome databases for unique gene sequences, faster electronic and photonic devices, robust devices made from diamond and better processing of biomedical materials for diagnosis of illness. Fabrication and characterization of these devices provides training for research students in state-of-the-art techniques with many uses. Deeper understanding of these quantum technologies will lead to better models for some of the most puzzling aspects of quantum mechanical systems that are the foundation of the physical processes of
our universe.Read moreRead less
Characterisation and fabrication of nanophotonic devices based on multi-layer stacks. The aim of this proposal is to continue the existing collaborative project on fabrication and characterisation of nanophotonic devices based on the multi-layer stack method. The project will integrate the state-of-the-art techniques in the respective collaborating universities to fabricate a nano-probe which can produce an evanescent field approximately four orders of magnitude stronger than that under the conv ....Characterisation and fabrication of nanophotonic devices based on multi-layer stacks. The aim of this proposal is to continue the existing collaborative project on fabrication and characterisation of nanophotonic devices based on the multi-layer stack method. The project will integrate the state-of-the-art techniques in the respective collaborating universities to fabricate a nano-probe which can produce an evanescent field approximately four orders of magnitude stronger than that under the conventional condition. This novel probe provides a key to the successful fabrication of innovative nanophotonic devices including photonic transistors, photonic circuits, high-density data storage disks and drives, nano-motors and biochips, which underpin biotechnology, information technology and optical computing technology.Read moreRead less
A novel spectrum encoding technology using nanoparticles for high-density, high-speed information coding and retrieval. The key-sector in high tech markets has been the photonics industry over the last decade, and it will continue to revolutionise our ways of information storage, processing and transfer for the next 10 to 20 years. The current project of novel spectrum-encoding technology will prove to be the key technological innovation in photonics (one of the National Research Priorities), w ....A novel spectrum encoding technology using nanoparticles for high-density, high-speed information coding and retrieval. The key-sector in high tech markets has been the photonics industry over the last decade, and it will continue to revolutionise our ways of information storage, processing and transfer for the next 10 to 20 years. The current project of novel spectrum-encoding technology will prove to be the key technological innovation in photonics (one of the National Research Priorities), which will not only meet the growing demands of the consumer market, but also continue to drive the industry and create new markets. This is in line with the Priority Goals set by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, as it will put Australia into the unique position in the information age.Read moreRead less
Optical Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Communication Systems. Optical multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems exploit a simple yet powerful principle of diversity to improve the capacity and robustness of optical networks. This proposal focuses on making the most use of two polarisation modes intrinsic to the fiber by applying MIMO techniques to the optical communication systems. This project can potentially create many commercial opportunities in Australia in the area of integrated photon ....Optical Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Communication Systems. Optical multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems exploit a simple yet powerful principle of diversity to improve the capacity and robustness of optical networks. This proposal focuses on making the most use of two polarisation modes intrinsic to the fiber by applying MIMO techniques to the optical communication systems. This project can potentially create many commercial opportunities in Australia in the area of integrated photonic circuits and high-speed digital signal processing. The funding support of these research activities will further enhance Australia's international ICT reputation in this emerging field.Read moreRead less
Nanometric optical sensing for characterisation of microbioreactors. Microfabrication of microfluidic based microbioreactors is a novel technology that is creating advanced tools in the fields of biology and medicine. A critically important step in the development of a microbioreactor is the ability to characterise fluid shear stress of the microenvironment without impacting on the biological system. The development of a microbioreactor in which individual or multiple cells can be cultured and ....Nanometric optical sensing for characterisation of microbioreactors. Microfabrication of microfluidic based microbioreactors is a novel technology that is creating advanced tools in the fields of biology and medicine. A critically important step in the development of a microbioreactor is the ability to characterise fluid shear stress of the microenvironment without impacting on the biological system. The development of a microbioreactor in which individual or multiple cells can be cultured and manipulated will have a significant impact on study of biological systems in cancer research and stem cell research. Read moreRead less
Nano-Engineering of Optical Fibre Fresnel Lenses. It is expected that the development of the Fresnel Lens Fibre will greatly enhance the simplicity with which fibres can be integrated into a variety of systems. An intrinsically focussing fibre will be cheap to produce and have significant size advantages over its competitors, thus giving it an excellent competitive advantage in the market place. Australia is home to a number of companies that would directly benefit from the commercialisation of ....Nano-Engineering of Optical Fibre Fresnel Lenses. It is expected that the development of the Fresnel Lens Fibre will greatly enhance the simplicity with which fibres can be integrated into a variety of systems. An intrinsically focussing fibre will be cheap to produce and have significant size advantages over its competitors, thus giving it an excellent competitive advantage in the market place. Australia is home to a number of companies that would directly benefit from the commercialisation of a Fresnel Lens Fibre. In addition to a range of possible telecommunications applications, the focussing fibre also has applications in spectroscopy, minimally invasive surgical procedures, and especially in the field of photodynamic therapy. Read moreRead less