Short-pulse laser cleaning for Australian heritage conservation. Conserving heritage objects is a demanding discipline, requiring a suite of techniques for different problems. Overseas, laser cleaning using long pulse techniques leaves microscopic damage as discrete chunks of material are removed, and is unsuitable for many materials. We have developed a short pulse laser process which can remove material molecule-by-molecule in a controlled fashion, and which can be readily halted once the fi ....Short-pulse laser cleaning for Australian heritage conservation. Conserving heritage objects is a demanding discipline, requiring a suite of techniques for different problems. Overseas, laser cleaning using long pulse techniques leaves microscopic damage as discrete chunks of material are removed, and is unsuitable for many materials. We have developed a short pulse laser process which can remove material molecule-by-molecule in a controlled fashion, and which can be readily halted once the final finish is achieved. We will research this technique for application to unique Australian heritage materials that are important to the specific conservation needs of the Australian War Memorial, the RAAF, Navy and Army Museums, Artlab Australia, and the Art Gallery of NSW.Read moreRead less
A comparative study of the laser-tissue interaction between solid state 213nm vs excimer gas 193nm laser systems. We will carry out a comparative study of the latest technological developments in laser vision correction surgery. We will compare the biological effects of a new solid state laser operating at 213nm and a traditional excimer gas laser operating at 193nm. For each laser type, long-term scarring, cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and free radical production will be studied in relevant in viv ....A comparative study of the laser-tissue interaction between solid state 213nm vs excimer gas 193nm laser systems. We will carry out a comparative study of the latest technological developments in laser vision correction surgery. We will compare the biological effects of a new solid state laser operating at 213nm and a traditional excimer gas laser operating at 193nm. For each laser type, long-term scarring, cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and free radical production will be studied in relevant in vivo and in vitro animal models. Furthermore, optimization of the irradiation protocol for the solid state laser will lead to the development of a wide range of biological applications.Read moreRead less
Laser based combustion diagnostics of an automotive development engine. Automotive emissions regulations will continue to tighten in the foreseeable future. Engine manufacturers are therefore undertaking substantial research and development in order to meet future legal requirements. One technology with proven emissions performance is gasoline direct injection (GDI).
This project requests funding for the detailed study of a GDI development engine. Sophisticated, laser based diagnostics and an ? ....Laser based combustion diagnostics of an automotive development engine. Automotive emissions regulations will continue to tighten in the foreseeable future. Engine manufacturers are therefore undertaking substantial research and development in order to meet future legal requirements. One technology with proven emissions performance is gasoline direct injection (GDI).
This project requests funding for the detailed study of a GDI development engine. Sophisticated, laser based diagnostics and an ?optical access? engine will be used to examine the fuel spray, fluid motion and pollutant formation inside the cylinder during operation. Numerical simulations will complement these experiments. Using these results, the mechanisms of pollutant formation in a GDI engine will be determined.
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A wavelength-versatile visible laser for ophthalmic instrumentation. Treatment of a wide range of retinal disorders can be enhanced by a range of treatment modalities using laser beams of different colours. The outcome of this project will be a new laser technology for ophthalmic applications which is unique in its versatility while reducing size and cost. This will allow our partner, Opto Global, to gain a unique market position for its ophthalmic products with flow-on benefits to the Austral ....A wavelength-versatile visible laser for ophthalmic instrumentation. Treatment of a wide range of retinal disorders can be enhanced by a range of treatment modalities using laser beams of different colours. The outcome of this project will be a new laser technology for ophthalmic applications which is unique in its versatility while reducing size and cost. This will allow our partner, Opto Global, to gain a unique market position for its ophthalmic products with flow-on benefits to the Australian economy and ultimately benefits to the community through improved clinical efficacy and patient outcomes. The frontier technology represented by these new laser devices is also applicable to other industries including medical aesthetics, colour projection and display, and defence systems.Read moreRead less
Optical supercontinuum generation from high pulse-energy optical sources. The aim of this project is to develop a broadband and high brightness optical fibre source based on optical supercontinuum generation (i.e. low-coherence optical signals with octave or more bandwidth). Unlike similar sources demonstrated recently which rely on expensive bulk femtosecond pump lasers, this source will be pumped by a large pulse-energy optical fibre laser and use stimulated Raman scattering to seed the contin ....Optical supercontinuum generation from high pulse-energy optical sources. The aim of this project is to develop a broadband and high brightness optical fibre source based on optical supercontinuum generation (i.e. low-coherence optical signals with octave or more bandwidth). Unlike similar sources demonstrated recently which rely on expensive bulk femtosecond pump lasers, this source will be pumped by a large pulse-energy optical fibre laser and use stimulated Raman scattering to seed the continuum generation. The primary outcome will be a compact low-cost all-fibre supercontinuum source with a wide range of applications in areas such as optical metrology, optical coherence tomography, and high resolution non-contact position and motion sensing.Read moreRead less
Application of Femtosecond Light Sources to Generation of Low Noise Microwave Signals. The main goal of the research project is to develop prototypes of photonic oscillators capable of generating spectrally pure signals both at optical and microwave frequencies. The project is also aimed at understanding noise mechanisms affecting frequency stability of classical microwave oscillators based on sapphire loaded cavity resonators. By cryogenically cooling such resonators we plan to create a new fam ....Application of Femtosecond Light Sources to Generation of Low Noise Microwave Signals. The main goal of the research project is to develop prototypes of photonic oscillators capable of generating spectrally pure signals both at optical and microwave frequencies. The project is also aimed at understanding noise mechanisms affecting frequency stability of classical microwave oscillators based on sapphire loaded cavity resonators. By cryogenically cooling such resonators we plan to create a new family of extremely low noise and economically viable microwave signal sources. The research proposed will enrich the field of oscillator frequency control, give rise to new techniques for precision noise measurements and reinforce Australia's position at the forefront of microwave and photonic science.Read moreRead less
A Laser Guide Star using a High Power, Synchronously Pumped Optical Parametric Oscillators. We will develop a novel high power source of 589nm coherent (laser) light to be used to create a laser guide star by exciting sodium atoms in the earth's upper atmosphere (the mesosphere). This is needed to determine the distortion caused by the atmosphere on an optical beam propagating through it and generate the information needed to correct those distortions using an adaptive optics telescope. This pr ....A Laser Guide Star using a High Power, Synchronously Pumped Optical Parametric Oscillators. We will develop a novel high power source of 589nm coherent (laser) light to be used to create a laser guide star by exciting sodium atoms in the earth's upper atmosphere (the mesosphere). This is needed to determine the distortion caused by the atmosphere on an optical beam propagating through it and generate the information needed to correct those distortions using an adaptive optics telescope. This project focuses on the development of a novel high power 589nm source based on a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator.Read moreRead less
NOVEL REAR-SURFACE DESIGNS FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY COMMERCIAL SILICON SOLAR CELLS. The aim of this collaboration between the University of New South Wales and BP Solar, both world leaders in high-efficiency commercial photovoltaic technologies, is to develop the rear surface of silicon solar cells to enable commercially competitive photovoltaic modules to exceed 20 percent efficiency. The project will develop new technologies for the rear surface that enable excellent light trapping, low recombinati ....NOVEL REAR-SURFACE DESIGNS FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY COMMERCIAL SILICON SOLAR CELLS. The aim of this collaboration between the University of New South Wales and BP Solar, both world leaders in high-efficiency commercial photovoltaic technologies, is to develop the rear surface of silicon solar cells to enable commercially competitive photovoltaic modules to exceed 20 percent efficiency. The project will develop new technologies for the rear surface that enable excellent light trapping, low recombination and good electrical interconnection that allow the substantial cost and efficiency benefits promised by the use of silicon wafers approaching 150 microns in thickness.Read moreRead less
Measuring boundary layer flows with airborne LIDAR. This project aims to support development of an existing LIDAR system to enable routine airborne measurement of winds and aerosol concentrations in the atmospheric boundary layer. The technical details are innovative such that the system can operate from a small aircraft, and obtain measurements over urban areas, where previously such measurements were unobtainable. This system will provide unique data to help unravel the complex process respon ....Measuring boundary layer flows with airborne LIDAR. This project aims to support development of an existing LIDAR system to enable routine airborne measurement of winds and aerosol concentrations in the atmospheric boundary layer. The technical details are innovative such that the system can operate from a small aircraft, and obtain measurements over urban areas, where previously such measurements were unobtainable. This system will provide unique data to help unravel the complex process responsible for transport and dispersion of pollutants in boundary layers over citiesRead moreRead less
Optical Information Processing with Diamond. The explosive growth in ideas for applications of quantum mechanics to practical devices for information processing has been a worldwide phenomenon of the past 4 years. A leading material which promises many of the desirable quantum properties is diamond. We aim to build on our extensive expertise in fundamental diamond research to design, fabricate and analyse novel quantum devices made from diamond. We will seek to attain the glittering prize of ....Optical Information Processing with Diamond. The explosive growth in ideas for applications of quantum mechanics to practical devices for information processing has been a worldwide phenomenon of the past 4 years. A leading material which promises many of the desirable quantum properties is diamond. We aim to build on our extensive expertise in fundamental diamond research to design, fabricate and analyse novel quantum devices made from diamond. We will seek to attain the glittering prize of constructing diamond devices that will absorb, store and re-emit single light-photons with revolutionary applications to information storage and processing.Read moreRead less