Microwave Antennas and Waveguides in Photonic Crystals. We propose to design a revolutionary new class of microwave antennas and antenna arrays in photonic crystals, which can shield, localise and guide electromagnetic radiation in a dielectric environment. This design is completely devoid of metal, thereby eliminating skin-effect losses that are the dominant limitation for planar antenna arrays at upper microwave (millimetre-wave) frequencies. Our new design will achieve high radiation efficie ....Microwave Antennas and Waveguides in Photonic Crystals. We propose to design a revolutionary new class of microwave antennas and antenna arrays in photonic crystals, which can shield, localise and guide electromagnetic radiation in a dielectric environment. This design is completely devoid of metal, thereby eliminating skin-effect losses that are the dominant limitation for planar antenna arrays at upper microwave (millimetre-wave) frequencies. Our new design will achieve high radiation efficiencies and antenna gains not possible with existing planar technology, thereby enabling new applications of planar antenna arrays, for example to radio astronomy, as well as greatly improving existing applications.Read moreRead less
New regularisation techniques in electromagnetic diffraction from cavities and related complex scatterers. Modern technology, such as radar and other imaging devices, exploits the information carried by electromagnetic waves. New technology depends centrally upon advances in the mathematics of waves to give precise, reliable and effective means of predicting how objects capture and re-radiate wave energy in the scattering environment. This project aims to develop a new mathematical approach to w ....New regularisation techniques in electromagnetic diffraction from cavities and related complex scatterers. Modern technology, such as radar and other imaging devices, exploits the information carried by electromagnetic waves. New technology depends centrally upon advances in the mathematics of waves to give precise, reliable and effective means of predicting how objects capture and re-radiate wave energy in the scattering environment. This project aims to develop a new mathematical approach to wave scattering by objects with complex scattering mechanisms, as typified by cavity structures. This new formulation is obtained by a process of analytical regularisation of the equations describing the scattering process. It generates algorithms more reliable and computationally accurate than current codes.
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Left-handed metamaterials and negative refraction. This project will establish and support the first team in Australia working in the field of left-handed metamaterials, artificial materials in which waves behave in a unique and counter-intuitive way. The project will promote this new field, enhance its rapid development, and facilitate emerging novel technologies in Australia. It will also lead to close international collaborations with active theoretical and experimental groups, and bring impo ....Left-handed metamaterials and negative refraction. This project will establish and support the first team in Australia working in the field of left-handed metamaterials, artificial materials in which waves behave in a unique and counter-intuitive way. The project will promote this new field, enhance its rapid development, and facilitate emerging novel technologies in Australia. It will also lead to close international collaborations with active theoretical and experimental groups, and bring important expertise to Australia. We believe our initial efforts of purely fundamental nature and extensive collaboration with the overseas groups will have a significant impact on the development of this field and related novel technologies in Australia, attracting strong interest from industry.Read moreRead less
Engineering and control of metamaterials with negative refraction. This project will extend significantly the research activity on metamaterials in Australia, promoting this new field and aiming to solve high priority problems and paving the way to creation of practical sub-wavelength devices. This project is therefore of national benefit for its advances in critical fundamental research and for potential applications in a large number of engineering tasks in microwave and optical devices. The p ....Engineering and control of metamaterials with negative refraction. This project will extend significantly the research activity on metamaterials in Australia, promoting this new field and aiming to solve high priority problems and paving the way to creation of practical sub-wavelength devices. This project is therefore of national benefit for its advances in critical fundamental research and for potential applications in a large number of engineering tasks in microwave and optical devices. The project will initialize collaboration with world leading experts in the area, bringing important expertise to Australia. It will provide a greater acceptance of Australia as a major world player in fundamental research.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear metamaterials and transformation optics. This research program will bring Australia to the forefront of international research in the exciting area of nonlinear metamaterials. It will provide high-level training for students in breakthrough science directions, and contribute to the uptake of frontier technologies by Australian industries for successful operation in a competitive global environment. This project will introduce and demonstrate novel concepts for dynamically controlling a ....Nonlinear metamaterials and transformation optics. This research program will bring Australia to the forefront of international research in the exciting area of nonlinear metamaterials. It will provide high-level training for students in breakthrough science directions, and contribute to the uptake of frontier technologies by Australian industries for successful operation in a competitive global environment. This project will introduce and demonstrate novel concepts for dynamically controlling and manipulating the properties of new type of materials. This research should bridge a gap between the study of metamaterials as a theoretical curiosity and their advanced applications. Our developments will underpin future developments in imaging systems and security. Read moreRead less
Electrodynamics of the High Latitude Ionosphere. Electrical power (~10^12 W on average), incident over the high latitude ionospheres drives auroral displays, causes magnetic disturbances and other space weather effects over the globe, including Australia. This project uses Iridium, a US$6 billion, commercial satellite constellation, to study energy deposition into the ionosphere from near-Earth space. The Iridium data is not public domain. This project provides data access, representing a signif ....Electrodynamics of the High Latitude Ionosphere. Electrical power (~10^12 W on average), incident over the high latitude ionospheres drives auroral displays, causes magnetic disturbances and other space weather effects over the globe, including Australia. This project uses Iridium, a US$6 billion, commercial satellite constellation, to study energy deposition into the ionosphere from near-Earth space. The Iridium data is not public domain. This project provides data access, representing a significant cost-effective way for Australia to participate in observational space science. Australian postgraduate training is an integral part of the project, providing international level access and interpretation of scientific satellite and over the horizon radar network data.Read moreRead less
Higher Order Effects in Miniaturized Piezoelectric Devices. The national benefits of this project are: (a) We will provide opportunities to two postdoctoral researchers to pursue cutting edge research on electromagnetic radiation/scattering and self-heating phenomena in microelectronic devices involving ultrathin lossy electrodes. (b) We will provide industry-oriented research on coating and shielding problems in microelectronic devices to two postgraduate students. (c) We will team up with worl ....Higher Order Effects in Miniaturized Piezoelectric Devices. The national benefits of this project are: (a) We will provide opportunities to two postdoctoral researchers to pursue cutting edge research on electromagnetic radiation/scattering and self-heating phenomena in microelectronic devices involving ultrathin lossy electrodes. (b) We will provide industry-oriented research on coating and shielding problems in microelectronic devices to two postgraduate students. (c) We will team up with world leading industrial partners and transfer high-tech know-how to Australia. (d) The outcomes of our research will position Australia as the prime focal point for the design, modelling and simulation of microacoustic devices.Read moreRead less