Drawing out spider silk photonics and technology. We discovered certain spider webs are an optical device of amazing sophistication – the result of 136 million years of evolution. New photonic and electron microscopy techniques will measure the unique optical and materials properties of the webs, and the resulting knowledge will have high impact for advanced, self- assembled, photonic materials.
Insight from Darkness: Nanophotonics for real-time phase imaging. This project aims to develop ultrathin surfaces patterned on the nanoscale for extracting information from optical wavefields. These devices can be designed to provide real-time phase contrast imaging of transparent objects. This capability would open up the possibility of live-cell imaging with no expensive optical components and no, or minimal, computational post-processing. The planar configuration is designed to be compatible ....Insight from Darkness: Nanophotonics for real-time phase imaging. This project aims to develop ultrathin surfaces patterned on the nanoscale for extracting information from optical wavefields. These devices can be designed to provide real-time phase contrast imaging of transparent objects. This capability would open up the possibility of live-cell imaging with no expensive optical components and no, or minimal, computational post-processing. The planar configuration is designed to be compatible with next-generation lab-on-a-chip technologies and permit rapid throughput diagnostics with potential applications in biomedicine and materials science. Expected project outcomes may also underpin fundamental advances in understanding the interaction of light with nanostructures.Read moreRead less
Dual nanoparticles to distinguish between right and left biomolecules. This project aims to enhance the sensitivity of optical activity to ultralow molecular concentration samples. Optical activity is a commercially available technique used to distinguish chemically identical and morphologically different biomolecules (enantiomers). Unlike other scattering techniques, near-field enhancing of optical activity has not been achieved, thus limiting these measurements to high molecular concentrations ....Dual nanoparticles to distinguish between right and left biomolecules. This project aims to enhance the sensitivity of optical activity to ultralow molecular concentration samples. Optical activity is a commercially available technique used to distinguish chemically identical and morphologically different biomolecules (enantiomers). Unlike other scattering techniques, near-field enhancing of optical activity has not been achieved, thus limiting these measurements to high molecular concentrations. There is evidence indicating that optical activity can be enhanced using dual nanoparticles (ie small particles with the same response to electric and magnetic fields). This project aims to advance our understanding of these dual nanoparticles and experimentally implement their use to enhance optical activity.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100954
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,852.00
Summary
Tailoring light with advanced plasmonic devices. The project will develop advanced nanophotonic elements for the control of light. The outcomes will progress the knowledge of optics on the nanoscale and will underpin new devices for use in a range of applications including biotechnology, medicine, defence and telecommunications.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101085
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$434,000.00
Summary
3D metafibre optics for advanced imaging. The aim is to design and interface multi-functional metasurfaces with optical fibres by using 3D laser printing technology. The anticipated goal is to develop innovative metafibres interfaced with achromatic meta-lenses, polarisation-selective metasurfaces, and Fourier-space imaging metasurfaces for all-on-fibre achromatic, full-Stokes polarimetric, and Fourier endoscopic imaging, respectively. Expected outcomes include new knowledge in fibre meta-optics ....3D metafibre optics for advanced imaging. The aim is to design and interface multi-functional metasurfaces with optical fibres by using 3D laser printing technology. The anticipated goal is to develop innovative metafibres interfaced with achromatic meta-lenses, polarisation-selective metasurfaces, and Fourier-space imaging metasurfaces for all-on-fibre achromatic, full-Stokes polarimetric, and Fourier endoscopic imaging, respectively. Expected outcomes include new knowledge in fibre meta-optics and a novel metafibre manufacturing platform in a critical sector of the 21st-century economy. The novel ultracompact, flexible, and versatile metafibre technology is expected to have a profound impact on fibre-optic imaging in photonic, biological, and telecommunications applications.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured films for optical document security. This project aims to develop a new class of synthetic thin films, with unique optical signatures as strong anti-counterfeiting features for future generations of Australian banknotes. The project expects to produce novel, ultra-thin films patterned on the nanoscale that produce vivid, easily recognisable optical effects building on recent advances in nanophotonic optical design and scalable nanofabrication strategies. The development of a range ....Nanostructured films for optical document security. This project aims to develop a new class of synthetic thin films, with unique optical signatures as strong anti-counterfeiting features for future generations of Australian banknotes. The project expects to produce novel, ultra-thin films patterned on the nanoscale that produce vivid, easily recognisable optical effects building on recent advances in nanophotonic optical design and scalable nanofabrication strategies. The development of a range of optical security features in Australia will ensure long-term confidence in our currency. An outcome of the project could be the commercialisation of new types of anti-counterfeiting features for use in Australia and overseas.Read moreRead less
Nano-optics: Colour matching on-a-chip. Nano-optics: Colour matching on-a-chip. This project aims to develop a small, lightweight and low cost chip for accurate spectral measurements, using recent advances in nano-optics. Optical spectrometers are widely used in science and industry but are large, heavy and expensive. The new chip could enable hand-held devices with performance comparable to large laboratory instruments. It could be revolutionary for colour matching, i.e. determining the colours ....Nano-optics: Colour matching on-a-chip. Nano-optics: Colour matching on-a-chip. This project aims to develop a small, lightweight and low cost chip for accurate spectral measurements, using recent advances in nano-optics. Optical spectrometers are widely used in science and industry but are large, heavy and expensive. The new chip could enable hand-held devices with performance comparable to large laboratory instruments. It could be revolutionary for colour matching, i.e. determining the colours of materials, offering unprecedented accuracy and robustness to illumination conditions given the size, weight and cost of the device. This technology is anticipated to foster the development of new products using the chip; and make Australia a leader in nano-optics research.Read moreRead less
Harnessing optical metasurfaces for reconfigurable optoelectronic devices. This project aims to demonstrate ultra-thin optical components known as metasurfaces, to demonstrate a new class of reconfigurable optoelectronic devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge in optics and photonics, a field whose impact upon modern society ranges from telecommunications to computing, green energy technologies, the arts, healthcare, and basic science. Expected outcomes of this project will be el ....Harnessing optical metasurfaces for reconfigurable optoelectronic devices. This project aims to demonstrate ultra-thin optical components known as metasurfaces, to demonstrate a new class of reconfigurable optoelectronic devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge in optics and photonics, a field whose impact upon modern society ranges from telecommunications to computing, green energy technologies, the arts, healthcare, and basic science. Expected outcomes of this project will be elucidation of the fundamentals underpinning optical metasurfaces. Such devices will permit optical systems with drastically smaller footprints, contributing to continued progress of the field of optics and photonics, and its ensuing benefits to society.Read moreRead less