Generating Highly Entangled Photons from Nonlinear Monolayer Domes. This project aims to investigate novel monolayer domes for the development of high-performance quantum photon sources. This research expects to expand our understanding of fundamental physics of photon pair generation in nonlinear optical materials. Such monolayer domes have ultra-high optical nonlinearity, which gives rise to strong light-matter interactions and enables high-efficiency photon pair generation. The expected outco ....Generating Highly Entangled Photons from Nonlinear Monolayer Domes. This project aims to investigate novel monolayer domes for the development of high-performance quantum photon sources. This research expects to expand our understanding of fundamental physics of photon pair generation in nonlinear optical materials. Such monolayer domes have ultra-high optical nonlinearity, which gives rise to strong light-matter interactions and enables high-efficiency photon pair generation. The expected outcome is demonstration of a prototype light-weight and intense quantum photon source based on novel materials, which can be readily integrated with photonic circuits for quantum communication technologies. This research could strengthen the development of new industries and lead to job creation.Read moreRead less
Harnessing Interlayer Biexcitons in Atomically Thin Heterostructures. This project aims to investigate the generation of high-quality quantum light sources by harnessing interlayer biexcitons in atomically thin heterostructures. This research expects to expand our understanding of fundamental physics of photon pair generation in atomically thin heterostructures. The expected outcome is demonstration of a prototype light-weight and intense quantum photon source based on novel materials, which can ....Harnessing Interlayer Biexcitons in Atomically Thin Heterostructures. This project aims to investigate the generation of high-quality quantum light sources by harnessing interlayer biexcitons in atomically thin heterostructures. This research expects to expand our understanding of fundamental physics of photon pair generation in atomically thin heterostructures. The expected outcome is demonstration of a prototype light-weight and intense quantum photon source based on novel materials, which can be readily integrated with photonic circuits for quantum communication technologies, enbling the developments of light weight portable devices, such as mobile phones, displays, and wearable photonics. This research could strengthen the development of new industries and lead to job creation in Australia. Read moreRead less
Optically-driven micromachines and microtools. The use of optical forces to trap and manipulate microscopic particles has developed from a novelty into a widely used versatile research tool - optical tweezers. New advances, such as the application and optical measurement of optical torque, have been brought to the brink of practical application. We will apply these methods to the development and production of micromachines of unprecedently small size, and the development of new medical diagnosti ....Optically-driven micromachines and microtools. The use of optical forces to trap and manipulate microscopic particles has developed from a novelty into a widely used versatile research tool - optical tweezers. New advances, such as the application and optical measurement of optical torque, have been brought to the brink of practical application. We will apply these methods to the development and production of micromachines of unprecedently small size, and the development of new medical diagnostic techniques, and industrial and research tools.Read moreRead less
Indium arsenic antimony (InAsSb) Quantum Dots for Mid-Infrared Lasers. This proposal will open a new area of research for mid-infrared laser devices. Any achievement from this project will benefit various academic and industrial communities, such as national security, environmental monitoring and spectroscopy. The outcomes of this research could create a new generation of high-performance mid-infrared lasers and put Australian researchers in the forefront of the development in this field.
Ultrafast photonic hammer: A new strategy to synthesise super-dense super-hard nanomaterials. We will develop a new way for laboratory synthesis of new classes of super-hard and super-dense materials at and above the extremely high temperature and density range currently accessible only in nuclear explosions. The ability of ultra-fast laser-induced phase transformations will be exploited aiming to form materials with exotic properties, which are theoretically predicted, but has not experimental ....Ultrafast photonic hammer: A new strategy to synthesise super-dense super-hard nanomaterials. We will develop a new way for laboratory synthesis of new classes of super-hard and super-dense materials at and above the extremely high temperature and density range currently accessible only in nuclear explosions. The ability of ultra-fast laser-induced phase transformations will be exploited aiming to form materials with exotic properties, which are theoretically predicted, but has not experimentally confirmed yet. Our new approach will have a profound interdisciplinary impact. The project will deliver underpinning knowledge, foremost practical expertise, and the prominent training of young researchers to secure Australia's international position among the leaders in the rapidly growing and competitive field of nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Growth and intermixing of quantum dots for multi-wavelength infrared photodetectors. Quantum dots are nano-scale structures grown by self-assembled epitaxial methods. In this project, intermixing of quantum dots, which is a novel technology to modify the opto-electronic properties of the dots will be studied using ion implantation and subsequent annealing. Optimised growth, implantation and annealing conditions will be used to grow and tune the detection wavelength of the infrared photodetectors ....Growth and intermixing of quantum dots for multi-wavelength infrared photodetectors. Quantum dots are nano-scale structures grown by self-assembled epitaxial methods. In this project, intermixing of quantum dots, which is a novel technology to modify the opto-electronic properties of the dots will be studied using ion implantation and subsequent annealing. Optimised growth, implantation and annealing conditions will be used to grow and tune the detection wavelength of the infrared photodetectors using intersubband transition. This will allow us to fabricate multi-wavelength infrared photodetectors for high performance infrared imaging system. This project involves an exciting combination of fundamental physics and device technology.Read moreRead less
Optically resonant dielectric structures for nanophotonics. This project aims to develop a novel research program underpinning the rapid development of a new generation of low-loss nanophotonics based on the physics of optically resonant dielectric nanoparticles. Such nanoparticles are the best candidates for the emerging field of metadevices with unique functionalities well beyond the capabilities of currently existing devices. The project aims to explore the confluence of subwavelength photoni ....Optically resonant dielectric structures for nanophotonics. This project aims to develop a novel research program underpinning the rapid development of a new generation of low-loss nanophotonics based on the physics of optically resonant dielectric nanoparticles. Such nanoparticles are the best candidates for the emerging field of metadevices with unique functionalities well beyond the capabilities of currently existing devices. The project aims to explore the confluence of subwavelength photonics, metamaterial concepts, graphene physics, and nonlinear optics. The expected outcomes of this research will enable the design and world-first experimental demonstration of ultra-thin, tunable, and low-loss metadevices for novel optical technologies with unique energy harvesting, switching, and sensing functionalities.Read moreRead less
Nanoparticle fluorescent labels as a platform for high throughput data gathering. Recent developments in genomics require gathering of vast amounts of information in a rapid and cost-effective fashion. To this aim we will develop a new fluorescent labelling technology with adequate throughput and high level of multiplexing. We will exploit recent advances in nanoparticle science combined with our own discoveries concerning rare earth ions as fluorescence activators. Our approach promises a combi ....Nanoparticle fluorescent labels as a platform for high throughput data gathering. Recent developments in genomics require gathering of vast amounts of information in a rapid and cost-effective fashion. To this aim we will develop a new fluorescent labelling technology with adequate throughput and high level of multiplexing. We will exploit recent advances in nanoparticle science combined with our own discoveries concerning rare earth ions as fluorescence activators. Our approach promises a combination of great technological simplicity, low fabrication costs, cutting edge performance and gives an additional time-resolved modality. Our fluorescent labels will be field-tested to search for yet unknown microorganisms.Read moreRead less
Slow light in nonlinear photonic crystals: less haste, more speed. The development of communications is vital to Australia's future. Our project will enable both massive improvements of the performance of the communication technologies and significant reductions in the cost and size of the associated infrastructures. The resulting benefits will contribute to developing the economy and lifestyle of rural and regional Australia. The expansion of a faster network throughout the country will eventua ....Slow light in nonlinear photonic crystals: less haste, more speed. The development of communications is vital to Australia's future. Our project will enable both massive improvements of the performance of the communication technologies and significant reductions in the cost and size of the associated infrastructures. The resulting benefits will contribute to developing the economy and lifestyle of rural and regional Australia. The expansion of a faster network throughout the country will eventually enable advanced techniques and services such as remote surgery, remote engineering and distance education. We will provide advanced training for three students who will gain valuable skills in this area that will be sought after by the Australian information and communication technology industry. Read moreRead less
Optical frequency conversion in nonlinear dielectric metasurfaces. This project aims to investigate the mixing of light colours in semiconductor nanocrystals arranged in an ultra-thin transparent film, called a nonlinear metasurface. Understanding of the resonant nonlinear interactions in such metasurfaces will allow for the up and down frequency conversion of light beams and images with efficiencies well beyond current capabilities. The outcomes of the project will form the basis for novel cost ....Optical frequency conversion in nonlinear dielectric metasurfaces. This project aims to investigate the mixing of light colours in semiconductor nanocrystals arranged in an ultra-thin transparent film, called a nonlinear metasurface. Understanding of the resonant nonlinear interactions in such metasurfaces will allow for the up and down frequency conversion of light beams and images with efficiencies well beyond current capabilities. The outcomes of the project will form the basis for novel cost-effective and compact devices for infrared imaging, and will also enable ultra-fast sources of quantum light with tailored spatial and spectral correlations. These will benefit important applications in defence and security, including night vision, security holograms, quantum cryptography and communications.Read moreRead less