Ultrafast Photonic Electron Microscopy: Visualising dynamics at the nanoscale. The dynamics of molecular processes are too fast to observe with any microscope so science has instead relied on recording the static before and after states of these changes, inferring what happens in between. This project aims to combine the advantages of ultrafast photonic laser control and electron microscopy to allow the direct visualisation of dynamics at the nanoscale in physical and biological systems. By prov ....Ultrafast Photonic Electron Microscopy: Visualising dynamics at the nanoscale. The dynamics of molecular processes are too fast to observe with any microscope so science has instead relied on recording the static before and after states of these changes, inferring what happens in between. This project aims to combine the advantages of ultrafast photonic laser control and electron microscopy to allow the direct visualisation of dynamics at the nanoscale in physical and biological systems. By providing a view into how order emerges from the thermal chaos of molecular objects this project aims to help to reveal the physical basis for life.Read moreRead less
Non-destructing X-ray testing. This project aims to improve imaging with X-rays, providing better image quality with higher throughput at a lower radiation dose. It will develop an X-ray imaging system that provides orders of magnitude greater sensitivity for detecting low-density objects that are often invisible with conventional X-ray scanners, and quantitative image analysis tools that can isolate materials from complex multi-material samples and detect individual chemical elements. Significa ....Non-destructing X-ray testing. This project aims to improve imaging with X-rays, providing better image quality with higher throughput at a lower radiation dose. It will develop an X-ray imaging system that provides orders of magnitude greater sensitivity for detecting low-density objects that are often invisible with conventional X-ray scanners, and quantitative image analysis tools that can isolate materials from complex multi-material samples and detect individual chemical elements. Significant benefits from these technologies are expected in industries including airport security, mining, agriculture, manufacturing quality control, and in research fields from medicine to geology.Read moreRead less
Dynamic multi-modal x-ray imaging. This project aims to create sensitive new methods of x-ray imaging that capture multiple image modalities with a single snapshot. Conventional x-ray imaging is widely used in a range of industries, but captures only a fraction of the rich information that is available in the x-ray wavefield. This project expects to extract additional image modalities to reveal x-ray-transparent features, and detect microscopic textures. By combining these capabilities with the ....Dynamic multi-modal x-ray imaging. This project aims to create sensitive new methods of x-ray imaging that capture multiple image modalities with a single snapshot. Conventional x-ray imaging is widely used in a range of industries, but captures only a fraction of the rich information that is available in the x-ray wavefield. This project expects to extract additional image modalities to reveal x-ray-transparent features, and detect microscopic textures. By combining these capabilities with the ability to capture images of a moving sample, this project will enable innovative biomedical and materials research studies, and develop new imaging technologies for use in security, hospitals and manufacturing. New methods of x-ray imaging will have wide-ranging benefits for society, the economy and healthcare.Read moreRead less
Optics at the nanoscale: physics, devices and applications. This project aims to harness light-matter interactions at the nanoscale for the development of new photonic devices for imaging and optical manipulation. Novel photodetectors that operate from visible to infrared wavelengths will be developed, enabled by sub-wavelength nanostructures. These could form the basis for digital cameras with multispectral imaging capabilities, for example, for biomedical imaging, food quality control and remo ....Optics at the nanoscale: physics, devices and applications. This project aims to harness light-matter interactions at the nanoscale for the development of new photonic devices for imaging and optical manipulation. Novel photodetectors that operate from visible to infrared wavelengths will be developed, enabled by sub-wavelength nanostructures. These could form the basis for digital cameras with multispectral imaging capabilities, for example, for biomedical imaging, food quality control and remote sensing. Nanostructures will be developed that concentrate light to nanoscale spots, enabling the trapping of single molecules and nanoparticles. This project aims to educate the next generation of Australian optical scientists and engineers, building the human infrastructure for future advances in this field.Read moreRead less
Parallel Lines: Ultra-dense optical systems for extreme data-rates. The project aims to explore methods to significantly expand global internet data rates, by using emerging ultra-dense optical technologies. The project plans to discover how novel existing and emerging tiny photonic chip devices may enable the use of new, unused optical spectral bands, and then enable 1000s of channels to be supported by exploiting newly available parallelism in both wavelength and space. Success in the project ....Parallel Lines: Ultra-dense optical systems for extreme data-rates. The project aims to explore methods to significantly expand global internet data rates, by using emerging ultra-dense optical technologies. The project plans to discover how novel existing and emerging tiny photonic chip devices may enable the use of new, unused optical spectral bands, and then enable 1000s of channels to be supported by exploiting newly available parallelism in both wavelength and space. Success in the project aims may enable speeds of up to 100 times greater than achievable today, in a variety of fibre optic systems. Connectivity is key to our society, so benefits may arise in both future-proofing key Australian data infrastructure, and in providing a roadmap to support exponential capacity growth over the coming decades.Read moreRead less
Laser threshold sensing. This project aims to create a new class of room-temperature ultra-sensitive magnetometers based on laser threshold magnetometry. By using nitrogen-vacancy colour centres in diamond, these magnetometers will demonstrate at least femto-Tesla per root Hertz sensitivity, and could replace SQUID magnetometers. This project aims to develop its theoretical concept into a platform for advanced sensing with applications in magneto-encephalography, nerve sensing, MRI imaging, mini ....Laser threshold sensing. This project aims to create a new class of room-temperature ultra-sensitive magnetometers based on laser threshold magnetometry. By using nitrogen-vacancy colour centres in diamond, these magnetometers will demonstrate at least femto-Tesla per root Hertz sensitivity, and could replace SQUID magnetometers. This project aims to develop its theoretical concept into a platform for advanced sensing with applications in magneto-encephalography, nerve sensing, MRI imaging, mining and aircraft guidance systems.Read moreRead less
Unified digital networking for wireless and optical access. The provision of broadband services is a high priority for the Australian government as evidenced by the various initiatives around Australia. The merging of backbone infrastructures for access environment will overcome unnecessary cost of maintaining and upgrading two separate networks for wired and wireless applications. The merged infrastructure will potentially provide inexpensive and cost-effective solutions for truly broadband ser ....Unified digital networking for wireless and optical access. The provision of broadband services is a high priority for the Australian government as evidenced by the various initiatives around Australia. The merging of backbone infrastructures for access environment will overcome unnecessary cost of maintaining and upgrading two separate networks for wired and wireless applications. The merged infrastructure will potentially provide inexpensive and cost-effective solutions for truly broadband services with a choice of wired or wireless connectivity to customers and will remove the rural-urban broadband divide that has been challenging Australia. The outcomes of this project can lead to new business ventures and will further strengthen the telecommunication industry.Read moreRead less
Advanced magnetic resonance imaging methods for the characterisation of brain structure and function. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method that has revolutionised the development of neuroscience and neurology. The goal of this project is to develop advanced MRI methods for the study of brain structure and function which will be applied to the investigation of epilepsy and stroke.
Nonlinear optical effects with low-power non-laser light. This project aims to allow the use of low-cost, low-intensity light sources, such as light-emitting diodes and discharge lamps, to generate nonlinear optical signals in photonic devices. Nonlinear optical effects are vital for telecommunication and signal processing technologies and are presently possible only when the light is produced by a high-power laser. The expected outcome of this project is a theoretical and experimental framework ....Nonlinear optical effects with low-power non-laser light. This project aims to allow the use of low-cost, low-intensity light sources, such as light-emitting diodes and discharge lamps, to generate nonlinear optical signals in photonic devices. Nonlinear optical effects are vital for telecommunication and signal processing technologies and are presently possible only when the light is produced by a high-power laser. The expected outcome of this project is a theoretical and experimental framework that would underpin the development of a new nonlinear photonic technology that does not require lasers, representing a paradigm shift in how photonic devices are designed. This should benefit sensing, telecommunications and defence by cheaper and more efficient transmission of information via media such as the National Broadband Network.Read moreRead less
Precise atomic-scale structure determination in thick nanostructures. This project aims to tackle a great challenge of atomic-scale characterisation: quantitative structure determination. Powerful new electron microscopes offer a window into the atomic world, but complex electron multiple scattering has limited reliable structure determination to ultrathin materials. This project expects to overcome this barrier. Anticipated outcomes include methods that use the latest detector technology to det ....Precise atomic-scale structure determination in thick nanostructures. This project aims to tackle a great challenge of atomic-scale characterisation: quantitative structure determination. Powerful new electron microscopes offer a window into the atomic world, but complex electron multiple scattering has limited reliable structure determination to ultrathin materials. This project expects to overcome this barrier. Anticipated outcomes include methods that use the latest detector technology to determine structure and interatomic bonding in much thicker nanostructures than hitherto possible. This should benefit academic and industrial researchers by giving them new tools to understand and design high-performance materials for applications ranging from catalysis to energy storage to next-generation electronics.Read moreRead less