Interferometric Distributed Feedback Fibre Laser Sensors. This project will solve important problems in realising next generation underwater optical fibre sensor systems for defence and marine exploration. OFTC's expertise in specialty optical fibre and devices will be combined with Thales' expertise in underwater sensor systems to give Australia a global lead. The benefits are commercial, national security and research standing. Domestic manufacture of a major optical system will assist maturat ....Interferometric Distributed Feedback Fibre Laser Sensors. This project will solve important problems in realising next generation underwater optical fibre sensor systems for defence and marine exploration. OFTC's expertise in specialty optical fibre and devices will be combined with Thales' expertise in underwater sensor systems to give Australia a global lead. The benefits are commercial, national security and research standing. Domestic manufacture of a major optical system will assist maturation of the sector which is dominated by component companies. This system for underwater surveillance is obviously important to a country with a large coastline to defend. This project will build Australia's global reputation renowned for research excellence in fibre and fibre devices.Read moreRead less
Microwave-modulated optical systems for free-space and undersea communications. Although offering flexible, rapid deployment, free space and underwater comunications have not kept up with progress in optical fibre communications, and current systems are signficantly restricted in range and data rate. To address these needs, we will develop novel laser systems using coherent detection, with infrared output for eyesafe transmission in air, and blue-green output for transmission underwater. The s ....Microwave-modulated optical systems for free-space and undersea communications. Although offering flexible, rapid deployment, free space and underwater comunications have not kept up with progress in optical fibre communications, and current systems are signficantly restricted in range and data rate. To address these needs, we will develop novel laser systems using coherent detection, with infrared output for eyesafe transmission in air, and blue-green output for transmission underwater. The signal is a microwave modulation on the optical carrier, which permits longer-range transmission while maintaining signal coherence. Key advantages include increased detection sensitivity, and potential to scale up the modulation frequency and the power for higher data rates and longer propagation distance.Read moreRead less
Development of Novel Polymer Optical Fiber Gratings. Polymer optical fiber gratings have attracted extensive worldwide research interest due to the excellent tunability and high sensitivity. They can be well developed into major devices for future optical communication and fiber sensing. But the research on polymer optical fiber are still at the early stage and the overall achievable performance of polymer optical fiber grating remains modest in comparison with that achieved in silica fiber grat ....Development of Novel Polymer Optical Fiber Gratings. Polymer optical fiber gratings have attracted extensive worldwide research interest due to the excellent tunability and high sensitivity. They can be well developed into major devices for future optical communication and fiber sensing. But the research on polymer optical fiber are still at the early stage and the overall achievable performance of polymer optical fiber grating remains modest in comparison with that achieved in silica fiber grating. This project addresses a range of key issues with scientific and technological importance on further exploring polymer optical fiber gratings for future industrial applications.Read moreRead less