New quantitative methods in X-ray imaging using crystal optics. This project will enhance Australian science's international leadership in the area of x-ray imaging. This powerful type of X-ray imaging, which makes use of optical elements made of perfect crystals, is specially tailored to image samples which are invisible to conventional x-ray techniques. Such "extended x-ray vision" is extremely important for imaging in medicine, biology and materials science. Furthermore, we will train x-ray s ....New quantitative methods in X-ray imaging using crystal optics. This project will enhance Australian science's international leadership in the area of x-ray imaging. This powerful type of X-ray imaging, which makes use of optical elements made of perfect crystals, is specially tailored to image samples which are invisible to conventional x-ray techniques. Such "extended x-ray vision" is extremely important for imaging in medicine, biology and materials science. Furthermore, we will train x-ray scientists of tomorrow, whose expertise will allow Australia to capitalize on its investment in the Australian Synchrotron.Read moreRead less
Generalized imaging systems incorporating hybrid hardware-software optics. Fundamental optics research underpins the commercial optical technologies of tomorrow. Modern examples of such evolution, from the fundamental to the commercial, include lasers, LED traffic lights, thin-screen computer monitors and digital cameras. The recent advent of accessible powerful computers, together with recent advances in optical physics, promise a powerful merging of computing and optical technologies into so ....Generalized imaging systems incorporating hybrid hardware-software optics. Fundamental optics research underpins the commercial optical technologies of tomorrow. Modern examples of such evolution, from the fundamental to the commercial, include lasers, LED traffic lights, thin-screen computer monitors and digital cameras. The recent advent of accessible powerful computers, together with recent advances in optical physics, promise a powerful merging of computing and optical technologies into so-called virtual optical systems in which the computer processes optical information in a manner very similar to lenses. In particular, the computer may be used to decode distorted images provided by an imperfect imaging system. Read moreRead less
Advanced X-ray Optical Systems: From innovative idea to intelligent implementation. This project combines advances made in x-ray optics by the x-ray physics group at the University of Melbourne with sophisticated microfabrication techniques developed at Swinburne University of Technology and at the Argonne National Laboratory synchrotron. This fusion gives us immediate access into a major space science initiative - an x-ray telescope for the International Space Station. At the same time we will ....Advanced X-ray Optical Systems: From innovative idea to intelligent implementation. This project combines advances made in x-ray optics by the x-ray physics group at the University of Melbourne with sophisticated microfabrication techniques developed at Swinburne University of Technology and at the Argonne National Laboratory synchrotron. This fusion gives us immediate access into a major space science initiative - an x-ray telescope for the International Space Station. At the same time we will be building a kernel of excellence, based on new approaches to x-ray imaging, that will be strategically placed to become an integral part of the development of experimental facilities for the Australian Synchrotron.Read moreRead less
Non-Interferometric Phase Measurement of Exotic Waves. Phase is a key concept in all aspects of physics from biological microscopy through to length measurement and on to industrial inspection. The University of Melbourne has developed a new class of phase measurement techniques that possesses unprecedented flexibility. The aim of this project is to build on the international leadership of the Australian team so as to fully explore and develop these techniques.
Moving-beam phase retrieval - a route to better microscopy! This research will benefit the nation by improving the quality of x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques available to Australian scientists. It will make it possible to examine microscopic structures in more detail and therefore gain more information about the atomic positions in these structures. This will greatly benefit research that depends on finding the structure of very small objects. Such research areas include ....Moving-beam phase retrieval - a route to better microscopy! This research will benefit the nation by improving the quality of x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques available to Australian scientists. It will make it possible to examine microscopic structures in more detail and therefore gain more information about the atomic positions in these structures. This will greatly benefit research that depends on finding the structure of very small objects. Such research areas include nanomaterials, biological engineering, medical science and materials science. The work is also expected to have industrial applications and to make an important contribution to the development of the synchrotron science industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Multiphoton microscopy through tissue turbid media. The aim of this proposal is to conduct the collaborative project on multi-photon microscopic imaging through biological tissue, which has been recently initiated between Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It will integrate the special skills, two-photon fluorescence endoscopy and second-harmonic coherence tomography, investigated in the respective collaborating institutes, to develop a nove ....Multiphoton microscopy through tissue turbid media. The aim of this proposal is to conduct the collaborative project on multi-photon microscopic imaging through biological tissue, which has been recently initiated between Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It will integrate the special skills, two-photon fluorescence endoscopy and second-harmonic coherence tomography, investigated in the respective collaborating institutes, to develop a novel method for detecting/imaging cancer cells that are located at 1 mm below tissue surfaces, while they are still in the early stage to be cured. Consequently, a diagnostic method for early cancer detection particularly through skin tissue becomes possible.Read moreRead less
Developments in Optical Sciences. The applicant leads a highly motivated and successful group of young investigators doing internationally leading work on complete recovery of phase information. This work is able to provide new approaches to fundamental research problems at the basis of quantum mechanics, as well as leading to important new applications in biomedical and industrial imaging. The proposed work has already led to one start-up company and it is expected that the commercial developme ....Developments in Optical Sciences. The applicant leads a highly motivated and successful group of young investigators doing internationally leading work on complete recovery of phase information. This work is able to provide new approaches to fundamental research problems at the basis of quantum mechanics, as well as leading to important new applications in biomedical and industrial imaging. The proposed work has already led to one start-up company and it is expected that the commercial development will continue. The proposed program will lead to an involvement in an international space project, enhance synchrotron-based research in Australia and lead to new developments in microfabrication technologies.Read moreRead less
Functional nonlinear optical endoscopy - the third-generation optical endoscopy technology toward early cancer detection at a cellular level. The third-generation optical endoscopy technology can be used for a better understanding of nonlinear optical interaction with organ sites and thus for early cancer detection. Such a novel device will enable biomedical scientists to gain the fundamental knowledge needed to enable Australians to develop better medical strategies for health and productive li ....Functional nonlinear optical endoscopy - the third-generation optical endoscopy technology toward early cancer detection at a cellular level. The third-generation optical endoscopy technology can be used for a better understanding of nonlinear optical interaction with organ sites and thus for early cancer detection. Such a novel device will enable biomedical scientists to gain the fundamental knowledge needed to enable Australians to develop better medical strategies for health and productive lives. Since 1 in 3 Australians will feel the effects of cancers, development of portable nonlinear optical endoscopes is of national importance, in particular for rural Australia, and therefore improves the healthcare of human beings. The potential spin-off activity will lead to economic benefits from new R&D development.Read moreRead less
Electron Tomography of Electromagnetic Fields, Potentials and Sources. The proliferation of technologies incorporating magnetic materials with exquisitely fine structure demands precise characterization methods, which are able to keep pace with magnetic miniaturization. However, existing techniques are unable to directly image magnetic materials at high resolution in three dimensions. We will overcome this deficiency, by combining an exciting new methodology for the three-dimensional visualisati ....Electron Tomography of Electromagnetic Fields, Potentials and Sources. The proliferation of technologies incorporating magnetic materials with exquisitely fine structure demands precise characterization methods, which are able to keep pace with magnetic miniaturization. However, existing techniques are unable to directly image magnetic materials at high resolution in three dimensions. We will overcome this deficiency, by combining an exciting new methodology for the three-dimensional visualisation of electromagnetic fields, with the latest cutting-edge electron-microscopes, thereby facilitating advances in magnetic nano-manufacturing. The anticipated applications are vast, from patterned nanomagnets and magnetic proteins, through to semiconductors and superconductors.Read moreRead less
Probing nanoscale disorder in 3D with x-ray free-electron lasers. This project aims to reveal the 3D nanostructure of disordered matter with x-rays for the first time. Existing x-ray scattering techniques for disordered structures currently provide limited, one-dimensional information only. The expected outcomes of the project include an enhanced new capability for the Australian Synchrotron and international x-ray laser facilities, and new insights into the microscopic origins of the properties ....Probing nanoscale disorder in 3D with x-ray free-electron lasers. This project aims to reveal the 3D nanostructure of disordered matter with x-rays for the first time. Existing x-ray scattering techniques for disordered structures currently provide limited, one-dimensional information only. The expected outcomes of the project include an enhanced new capability for the Australian Synchrotron and international x-ray laser facilities, and new insights into the microscopic origins of the properties of liquids and biological membranes. This should benefit research areas that use x-ray scattering to probe the nanostructure of materials for diverse applications such as nanotechnology, fuel cells and drug design.Read moreRead less