Untangling Complex Molecular Spectra with an Optical Frequency Comb. The exhaled breath is a rich source of information about the inner life of the human body - but untangling this complicated molecular mixture into a quantitative measurement of its constituent components is currently an unsolved problem. This project aims to develop a new instrument that leverages the Nobel Prize winning technology of the optical frequency comb to enable analysis of such mixtures. It is expected that by combini ....Untangling Complex Molecular Spectra with an Optical Frequency Comb. The exhaled breath is a rich source of information about the inner life of the human body - but untangling this complicated molecular mixture into a quantitative measurement of its constituent components is currently an unsolved problem. This project aims to develop a new instrument that leverages the Nobel Prize winning technology of the optical frequency comb to enable analysis of such mixtures. It is expected that by combining a frequency comb source, with an innovative detector and a highly sensitive sampling system, a real-time spectral signature of each sample will be generated. Computational techniques developed by the radio astronomy community will then be used to extract concentrations of individual molecular components at the parts-per-billion level.Read moreRead less
Coherent LIDAR for Monitoring Air Pollution and Atmospheric Wind-fields. Industry, government and civil defence urgently require compact, field deployable sensors that can measure winds and monitor pollution in the atmospheric boundary layer. Without these sensors they are unable to measure and make informed decisions about windborne dispersion of industrial emissions, environmental pollutants, and chemical/biological toxins under operational conditions. The project will develop eye-safe cohere ....Coherent LIDAR for Monitoring Air Pollution and Atmospheric Wind-fields. Industry, government and civil defence urgently require compact, field deployable sensors that can measure winds and monitor pollution in the atmospheric boundary layer. Without these sensors they are unable to measure and make informed decisions about windborne dispersion of industrial emissions, environmental pollutants, and chemical/biological toxins under operational conditions. The project will develop eye-safe coherent lidar (light detection and ranging) systems that can measure wind velocities at ranges of up to 10 km with an accuracy of about 1 m/s, and can be deployed to field sites as required. The technology will be of major interest to the commercial sector.Read moreRead less
Levitated Quantum Optomechanics with Trapped, Rotating Microparticles. This project will develop techniques for trapping, rotating and cooling microscopic particles in vacuum for exquisitely accurate studies of sensors and of fundamental physics at the classical-quantum interface - namely quantum vacuum friction. It will result in the establishment of an internationally recognised activity in rotational levitated optomechanics and expand Australia's presence in the field of quantum photonics. It ....Levitated Quantum Optomechanics with Trapped, Rotating Microparticles. This project will develop techniques for trapping, rotating and cooling microscopic particles in vacuum for exquisitely accurate studies of sensors and of fundamental physics at the classical-quantum interface - namely quantum vacuum friction. It will result in the establishment of an internationally recognised activity in rotational levitated optomechanics and expand Australia's presence in the field of quantum photonics. It has the potential for commercial benefit in areas including photonics, sensors and advanced manufacturingRead moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100099
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,401,828.00
Summary
The Intelligent Microscope - novel optical imaging at depth. While optical methods for imaging are used extensively, achieving wide-field imaging through scattering media with high resolution and depth is a major challenge, due mainly to the limited penetration depth of light. This proposal aims to transform wide-field optical imaging through a new ‘intelligent’ microscopy able to capture 3D volumetric images. Innovations in shaping light in both space and time will be combined in a holistic wa ....The Intelligent Microscope - novel optical imaging at depth. While optical methods for imaging are used extensively, achieving wide-field imaging through scattering media with high resolution and depth is a major challenge, due mainly to the limited penetration depth of light. This proposal aims to transform wide-field optical imaging through a new ‘intelligent’ microscopy able to capture 3D volumetric images. Innovations in shaping light in both space and time will be combined in a holistic way with computational analysis to extract images from deep within the sample at extraordinary levels of detail. Major benefits of the research range from next-generation tools for enhanced discovery of biological and physical materials, to new Australian start-ups for new imaging and microscopy devices.Read moreRead less
Ringed photonic crystal fibres for broadband nonlinear optics. The technology developed from this project will enable organic molecules to be detected, identified and quantified. Because the technology is compact, easily engineered and low cost, it will lead to a dramatically increased capability for infrared spectroscopic measurement throughout biology and medicine, with specific benefits in agriculture, the food industry and defence.
Compact and versatile chip lasers for three-dimensional mine surveying. This project will bring together a world leading mine survey company, The University of Adelaide and Macquarie University researchers, to develop an 'eye-safe' micro laser for high resolution three-dimensional laser-mapping. The recently developed and patented 'chip' laser will allow the realisation of a compact, enhanced range laser-radar with unmatched resolution.
Next generation photonic waveguide sensors enabled by machine learning. This project aims to establish the next frontier in photonic waveguide sensing, by using machine learning to shift the complexity out of conventional photonic-waveguide/optical-fibre sensors and into smart detection algorithms. The complexity and instability of multimode photonic waveguides, traditionally a hinderance to sensing, will be advantageously employed to train deep learning models for sensing. Expected outcomes inc ....Next generation photonic waveguide sensors enabled by machine learning. This project aims to establish the next frontier in photonic waveguide sensing, by using machine learning to shift the complexity out of conventional photonic-waveguide/optical-fibre sensors and into smart detection algorithms. The complexity and instability of multimode photonic waveguides, traditionally a hinderance to sensing, will be advantageously employed to train deep learning models for sensing. Expected outcomes include the creation of intelligent photonic sensors that can, in principle, measure any environmental parameter using any optical waveguide material. It will create new critically needed measurement capabilities for challenging harsh environments, such as extreme temperature and in-vivo biochemical sensing.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
Short-pulse laser cleaning for Australian heritage conservation. Conserving heritage objects is a demanding discipline, requiring a suite of techniques for different problems. Overseas, laser cleaning using long pulse techniques leaves microscopic damage as discrete chunks of material are removed, and is unsuitable for many materials. We have developed a short pulse laser process which can remove material molecule-by-molecule in a controlled fashion, and which can be readily halted once the fi ....Short-pulse laser cleaning for Australian heritage conservation. Conserving heritage objects is a demanding discipline, requiring a suite of techniques for different problems. Overseas, laser cleaning using long pulse techniques leaves microscopic damage as discrete chunks of material are removed, and is unsuitable for many materials. We have developed a short pulse laser process which can remove material molecule-by-molecule in a controlled fashion, and which can be readily halted once the final finish is achieved. We will research this technique for application to unique Australian heritage materials that are important to the specific conservation needs of the Australian War Memorial, the RAAF, Navy and Army Museums, Artlab Australia, and the Art Gallery of NSW.Read moreRead less
Extreme temperature monitoring for minerals and metals processing. This project aims to extend the capabilities of the optical fibre temperature sensor technology developed by the research team, based on microstructured optical fibres and femtosecond laser ablation fibre Bragg gratings, to conduct a range of measurements inside industrial furnace environments that are impossible using existing technology. This device will also be validated within the furnaces located at the minerals and metals p ....Extreme temperature monitoring for minerals and metals processing. This project aims to extend the capabilities of the optical fibre temperature sensor technology developed by the research team, based on microstructured optical fibres and femtosecond laser ablation fibre Bragg gratings, to conduct a range of measurements inside industrial furnace environments that are impossible using existing technology. This device will also be validated within the furnaces located at the minerals and metals processing facility operated by Nyrstar in Port Pirie. This project is designed to enable smelter operators to improve production efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and minimise equipment failure.Read moreRead less