Fracture-Resistant Highly Insulating Vacuum Glazing. Vacuum glazing can provide thermal and sound insulation for windows that achieve the benefits of double glazing without the increased thickness by incorporating a vacuum space between two sheets of glass. The gap is maintained by pillars under high compressive stress due to atmospheric pressure. In this project, we will study the effect of pillar designs and materials on the U-value and the mechanical performance of these complex structures. D ....Fracture-Resistant Highly Insulating Vacuum Glazing. Vacuum glazing can provide thermal and sound insulation for windows that achieve the benefits of double glazing without the increased thickness by incorporating a vacuum space between two sheets of glass. The gap is maintained by pillars under high compressive stress due to atmospheric pressure. In this project, we will study the effect of pillar designs and materials on the U-value and the mechanical performance of these complex structures. Detailed simulations and measurements of stress distributions in the pillars, edge seals and glass sheets, under static and dynamic loading conditions, will allow us to develop glazing structures with greatly increased mechanical strength.Read moreRead less
Nanophotonic metamaterials as anti-counterfeit devices in Australian banknotes. This project will demonstrate the application of novel materials as the basis for next generation security features on banknotes. Such elements play a key role in maintaining the integrity of Australia's currency since they present a significant barrier to counterfeiting.
Beam steering by Huygens metasurfaces for sensing applications. Beam steering by Huygens metasurfaces for sensing applications. This project aims to develop steerable radar systems for navigation sensors and surround monitoring in vehicles, using antennas operating in the millimetre-wave range, which have improved resolution and maintain long sensing distances. The boom in radar sensing technologies used for safety and comfort in cars has stimulated the need for cost-effective directional antenn ....Beam steering by Huygens metasurfaces for sensing applications. Beam steering by Huygens metasurfaces for sensing applications. This project aims to develop steerable radar systems for navigation sensors and surround monitoring in vehicles, using antennas operating in the millimetre-wave range, which have improved resolution and maintain long sensing distances. The boom in radar sensing technologies used for safety and comfort in cars has stimulated the need for cost-effective directional antennas for beam steering in sensing applications. This project will use the recently discovered concept of Huygens metasurfaces, which enable cost-effective devices with low transmission losses and strong tuning of beam-steering angle. The wider availability of such radars is expected to enhance collision prevention systems, adaptive cruise control and ultimately help create self-navigating cars.Read moreRead less
The Surface Science of Vacuum Glazing. In order to achieve a stable vacuum in evacuated glazing, high temperature baking during evacuation is required. The high temperature processing prevents the use of strengthened glass, such as tempered glass. However, samples made at low temperatures suffer from poor vacuum characteristics, particularly when exposed to UV radiation. In this project, we aim to discover the chemical and physical processes occurring on the glass surface responsible for vacuum ....The Surface Science of Vacuum Glazing. In order to achieve a stable vacuum in evacuated glazing, high temperature baking during evacuation is required. The high temperature processing prevents the use of strengthened glass, such as tempered glass. However, samples made at low temperatures suffer from poor vacuum characteristics, particularly when exposed to UV radiation. In this project, we aim to discover the chemical and physical processes occurring on the glass surface responsible for vacuum degradation. We will use this knowledge to develop a low temperature manufacturing process that can be used with tempered glass and results in a high-quality vacuum, stable over the device service life.Read moreRead less
A versatile optical wavelength and mode switching device for future telecommunication networks. This project will develop a next generation switching device for future fibre optical communication networks that will divide their information among several modes of specialty fibre. This device will be a key component for allowing network operators to move to these novel mode-multiplexed networks in order to overcome the looming capacity crunch.
Vocal resonances in speech: rapid, precise measurements of how tract resonances vary with time, with applications to speech and language training. This project will track dynamically with significant precision the resonances of the vocal tract which produce much of the phonetic information in speech and important features of accent. The information and technology developed will be useful for speech science, benefiting speech synthesis, speech training and language acquisition.
Diamond-based Ultra Violet (UV)-emitting devices. The development of UV-emitting solid state devices will enable new applications and drive rapid growth of new industries in particular in health care (sterilisation), microelectronics (lithography) and high-density data storage. With its deep expertise in photonics, Australia is well positioned to become a significant player in these industries. This collaborative project, involving academic and industrial partners, seeks to leverage Australian s ....Diamond-based Ultra Violet (UV)-emitting devices. The development of UV-emitting solid state devices will enable new applications and drive rapid growth of new industries in particular in health care (sterilisation), microelectronics (lithography) and high-density data storage. With its deep expertise in photonics, Australia is well positioned to become a significant player in these industries. This collaborative project, involving academic and industrial partners, seeks to leverage Australian scientific expertise to create new hybrid diamond/nitride structures potentially capable of emitting UV-radiation with high-efficiency and power. The outcomes will help seed new industry and economic growth in Australia.Read moreRead less
Exploring the Fundamentals of Atomically Precise Manufacturing with Scanning Probe Microscopes. Over the past five years, Australian researchers have pioneered the development of a new method for fabricating electrical devices in silicon with atomic precision. By partnering with the world leader in nanotechnology manufacturing, these same researchers now have an opportunity to extend Australia's early lead in this area. The proposed research will lead to new capabilities for Australia within the ....Exploring the Fundamentals of Atomically Precise Manufacturing with Scanning Probe Microscopes. Over the past five years, Australian researchers have pioneered the development of a new method for fabricating electrical devices in silicon with atomic precision. By partnering with the world leader in nanotechnology manufacturing, these same researchers now have an opportunity to extend Australia's early lead in this area. The proposed research will lead to new capabilities for Australia within the growing field of electro-mechanical devices. It will strengthen and broaden Australia's leadership in atomic-scale device fabrication in silicon. It will assist world-leading Australian researchers to evaluate and prioritise the commercial potential of their technologies.Read moreRead less
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF SILICON ON SAPPHIRE THIN FILMS GROWN USING SOLID-PHASE EPITAXIAL TECHNIQUES. Devices based on silicon-on-sapphire processing are potentially faster and are prepared with fewer processing steps than those based on conventional silicon processing technology. However, silicon-on-sapphire films prepared by traditional methods are unsatisfactory due to the high densities of defects they contain. The development of solid phase epitaxial processing has lead to significant increas ....STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF SILICON ON SAPPHIRE THIN FILMS GROWN USING SOLID-PHASE EPITAXIAL TECHNIQUES. Devices based on silicon-on-sapphire processing are potentially faster and are prepared with fewer processing steps than those based on conventional silicon processing technology. However, silicon-on-sapphire films prepared by traditional methods are unsatisfactory due to the high densities of defects they contain. The development of solid phase epitaxial processing has lead to significant increases in performance. This project will characterize the structures of films grown by this new process, and relate them to both the processing conditions and device performance. A greater understanding of the relationship between processing, structure and properties will assist the commercial development of these devices.Read moreRead less
Optical fibre devices for sideways delivery of laser light during keyhole surgery. Mulitmode optical fibres are typically used to deliver high power laser light which is emitted from the end of the fibre to irradiate tissue during surgery. For intravenous delivery of laser light in the treatment of cardiac fibrillation (heart flutter) we require a sideways-directed illuminating beam. However reliable methods of delivering high power laser light in a sideways-directed beam are not currently avai ....Optical fibre devices for sideways delivery of laser light during keyhole surgery. Mulitmode optical fibres are typically used to deliver high power laser light which is emitted from the end of the fibre to irradiate tissue during surgery. For intravenous delivery of laser light in the treatment of cardiac fibrillation (heart flutter) we require a sideways-directed illuminating beam. However reliable methods of delivering high power laser light in a sideways-directed beam are not currently available. Using the ultraviolet laser fibre processing expertise already developed at Macquarie University, we propose to develop and characterise novel fibre-based devices which would allow controllable delivery of light sideways.Read moreRead less