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
SILICON BASED PHOTONIC CRYSTALS FOR MONITORING BIOMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS. Two great goals of biomolecular science are to monitor biomolecular interactions in real time and with sufficient sensitivity to allow small amounts of biological material to be investigated. The achievement of these goals is limited by the methods of transducing these reactions. The aim of this multidisciplinary proposal is to overcome this limitation by developing photonic devices that exploit the unique properties of na ....SILICON BASED PHOTONIC CRYSTALS FOR MONITORING BIOMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS. Two great goals of biomolecular science are to monitor biomolecular interactions in real time and with sufficient sensitivity to allow small amounts of biological material to be investigated. The achievement of these goals is limited by the methods of transducing these reactions. The aim of this multidisciplinary proposal is to overcome this limitation by developing photonic devices that exploit the unique properties of nanoporous silicon. The hybridisation of DNA will be used as a model biorecognition reaction. Potential applications of these photonic devices are as highly sensitive affinity sensors and as tools for investigating the kinetics of biomolecular interactions.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989390
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Versatile Scanning X-ray Microscopy Facility at the Australian Synchrotron. The challenges of the modern world means that the Australian community must continue to have access to state of the art research tools. An important component of international synchrotron sources is the very high resolution x-ray microscope. These microscopes are used to image samples of biological, material or environmental significance with extraordinary precision. This project will establish such a microscope at the A ....Versatile Scanning X-ray Microscopy Facility at the Australian Synchrotron. The challenges of the modern world means that the Australian community must continue to have access to state of the art research tools. An important component of international synchrotron sources is the very high resolution x-ray microscope. These microscopes are used to image samples of biological, material or environmental significance with extraordinary precision. This project will establish such a microscope at the Australian Synchrotron in Clayton, and nucleates an extensive nationwide collaboration that is devoted to the development of this and related techniques and their application to problems of national scientific, environmental and technological importance.Read moreRead less
Quantum coherence of electronic transport in layered magnetoresistive materials. The continued rapid expansion of information technology requires new materials and devices for information storage. State of the art computer memories are based on new materials which consist of layers of complex arrays of atoms. These materials have metallic properties quite unlike those of simple metals such as copper and steel. This research will lead to a greater understanding of and ability to design better ma ....Quantum coherence of electronic transport in layered magnetoresistive materials. The continued rapid expansion of information technology requires new materials and devices for information storage. State of the art computer memories are based on new materials which consist of layers of complex arrays of atoms. These materials have metallic properties quite unlike those of simple metals such as copper and steel. This research will lead to a greater understanding of and ability to design better materials. Australia's capacity for research and development in this scientifically challenging and technologically important field will be enhanced by this project. Read moreRead less
High power optical systems for advanced interferometry - an ACIGA project. Direct detection of gravitational waves will open a whole new window on the Universe for mankind and is the most significant quest in modern Physics. We aim to continue as partners in this effort through our major contributions to an increase of detector sensitivity. We will develop and test critical new concepts and components, including high power ultra stable lasers, new methods for optical wavefront sensing and correc ....High power optical systems for advanced interferometry - an ACIGA project. Direct detection of gravitational waves will open a whole new window on the Universe for mankind and is the most significant quest in modern Physics. We aim to continue as partners in this effort through our major contributions to an increase of detector sensitivity. We will develop and test critical new concepts and components, including high power ultra stable lasers, new methods for optical wavefront sensing and correction, and new reflective and diffractive components for high power optical interferometers. This research will greatly enhance Australian scientific standing, strengthen scientific collaboration internationally and within Australia, and contribute to education in photonics.Read moreRead less
Probe-free biophysical force and torque measurements with optical tweezers. This project aims to develop probe-free biophysical force and torque measurement methods based on optical tweezers. Many areas of research in cell biology are hampered by a lack of quantitative force measurements. This project aims to provide accurate quantitative measurements to enable in-depth understanding of forces at work during cell division, properties of blood cells and sperm motility which could generate further ....Probe-free biophysical force and torque measurements with optical tweezers. This project aims to develop probe-free biophysical force and torque measurement methods based on optical tweezers. Many areas of research in cell biology are hampered by a lack of quantitative force measurements. This project aims to provide accurate quantitative measurements to enable in-depth understanding of forces at work during cell division, properties of blood cells and sperm motility which could generate further research leading to health benefits.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347356
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$238,000.00
Summary
Real-time multi-dimensional multi-photon microscopy facility. The proposal seeks to establish an integrated microscopy facility and thus to expand the high-resolution imaging capabilities at Swinburne University of Technology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute and the University of Melbourne. The provision of the equipment requested will establish an innovative real-time multi-dimensional multi-photon imaging facility of world class. This facility will be accessed on a cooperative basis by the pa ....Real-time multi-dimensional multi-photon microscopy facility. The proposal seeks to establish an integrated microscopy facility and thus to expand the high-resolution imaging capabilities at Swinburne University of Technology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute and the University of Melbourne. The provision of the equipment requested will establish an innovative real-time multi-dimensional multi-photon imaging facility of world class. This facility will be accessed on a cooperative basis by the participants and will be available for collaborative projects with other Australian institutions and industry. The requested equipment will be used in conjunction with existing femtosecond laser and lifetime imaging systems installed in the research laboratories of the participating institutions. The facility will enable real-time investigations of biomolecular processes and the development of novel biomedical imaging techniques as well as the state-of-the-art nanophotonic devices such as nano-tweezers and nano compact disks.Read moreRead less
Worldwide Collaboration for the Creation of New Frequency Standards, and their Application to testing the Foundations of Physics. Frequency standards are crucial for the highest precision scientific measurements as well as in modern communication and information technology (C&IT). Having already achieved world-best performance for short-term frequency stability, our research team is seeking support to participate in a broad international program with three particular objectives:
(i) create ne ....Worldwide Collaboration for the Creation of New Frequency Standards, and their Application to testing the Foundations of Physics. Frequency standards are crucial for the highest precision scientific measurements as well as in modern communication and information technology (C&IT). Having already achieved world-best performance for short-term frequency stability, our research team is seeking support to participate in a broad international program with three particular objectives:
(i) create new frequency standards based on laser-cooled atoms,
(ii) develop femtosecond laser technology for generating low noise microwave and optical signals,
(iii) develop microwave technology suitable for operation in space.
Improved frequency standards will allow decisive measurements on several fundamental scientific questions, as well as leading to commercial applications in C&IT.
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Biomolecular optoelectronic materials and devices. The melanins are the molecules in our skin, eyes and hair that provide colour and protection from the sun. In addition to being important bio-molecules, they have properties which make them useful for high tech applications especially in electronics and optoelectronics. Unfortunately, our current understanding of these fascinating materials is poor. In our project we aim to solve this limiting problem. We will develop new science to explain thei ....Biomolecular optoelectronic materials and devices. The melanins are the molecules in our skin, eyes and hair that provide colour and protection from the sun. In addition to being important bio-molecules, they have properties which make them useful for high tech applications especially in electronics and optoelectronics. Unfortunately, our current understanding of these fascinating materials is poor. In our project we aim to solve this limiting problem. We will develop new science to explain their behaviour, and use this knowledge to create bio-compatible hi-tech materials and devices. We anticipate significant benefits from the perspectives of basic science and utilisation of biomaterials for new green technologies.Read moreRead less
Quantum effects in photosynthesis: responsible for highly efficient energy transfer or trivial coincidence? Understanding the precise details of the highly efficient energy transfer processes in photosynthesis has the potential to impact the design of efficient solar energy solutions. This project will gain this understanding by exploring the nature of interactions between different components and the significance of quantum mechanics.