Microwave Antennas based on Metamaterials. This project concerns one of the most exciting and dynamic areas of research at present. Metamaterials have tremendous potential, with the promise of multitudinous applications in microwave, optical and optoelectronic fields. This project will contribute towards the ARC priority goal on advanced materials and frontier technologies by (a) developing new synthesized materials which have special properties not found in nature, and (b) developing new techn ....Microwave Antennas based on Metamaterials. This project concerns one of the most exciting and dynamic areas of research at present. Metamaterials have tremendous potential, with the promise of multitudinous applications in microwave, optical and optoelectronic fields. This project will contribute towards the ARC priority goal on advanced materials and frontier technologies by (a) developing new synthesized materials which have special properties not found in nature, and (b) developing new technologies to deliver practical benefits for communication systems users by exploiting these materials. Other benefits for Australia include intellectual property and patent outcomes, which may help Australia to become a leader in metamaterial-based technologies.Read moreRead less
High-Performance Microwave and Millimetre Wave Antennae Based on Multi-layer Periodic Structures. Broadband communication has created a rapidly growing market for innovative microwave communication systems such as WiFi and WiMAX. Millimetre-wave technology is expected to deliver the next leap in communication technology with much faster wireless links for 3D TV etc. By developing innovative, low-cost, planar antennas with high performance, the proposed research will create opportunities for Aust ....High-Performance Microwave and Millimetre Wave Antennae Based on Multi-layer Periodic Structures. Broadband communication has created a rapidly growing market for innovative microwave communication systems such as WiFi and WiMAX. Millimetre-wave technology is expected to deliver the next leap in communication technology with much faster wireless links for 3D TV etc. By developing innovative, low-cost, planar antennas with high performance, the proposed research will create opportunities for Australian industry to compete in this growing global market with advanced, cost-effective, microwave and millimetre-wave products. The Australian research community will benefit from new methods, techniques and trained researchers, while Australian consumers will benefit from improved quality and low cost of services.Read moreRead less
NOVEL STUCTURES AND MATERIALS IN MICROSTRUCTURED POLYMER OPTICAL FIBRES. Last year we succeeded in fabricating the microstructured polymer optical fibres (MPOF). This work means that the fabrication constraints applying to similar glass fibres can be overcome, and entirely new types of structures can be investigated. As polymers can contain a much larger variety of dopants than glass the material properties of MPOF can also be fully exploited to develop new fibre functionalities. The combination ....NOVEL STUCTURES AND MATERIALS IN MICROSTRUCTURED POLYMER OPTICAL FIBRES. Last year we succeeded in fabricating the microstructured polymer optical fibres (MPOF). This work means that the fabrication constraints applying to similar glass fibres can be overcome, and entirely new types of structures can be investigated. As polymers can contain a much larger variety of dopants than glass the material properties of MPOF can also be fully exploited to develop new fibre functionalities. The combination of structural and material flexibility possible in MPOF offer the opportunity to radically redefine what is possible in microstructured fibres. It is these possibilities that we aim to explore in this project.Read moreRead less
Adaptive optical devices by microstructuring of nanocomposite materials. This project will develop novel nanocomposite materials and use them to fabricate adaptive optical devices designed and fabricated using innovative methods. Specifically, we will develop and characterise transparent composite materials comprising a dispersion of nano-sized inclusions within a polymer host. The properties of these materials will be tailored to allow fabrication of adaptive optical devices (e.g. tunable filte ....Adaptive optical devices by microstructuring of nanocomposite materials. This project will develop novel nanocomposite materials and use them to fabricate adaptive optical devices designed and fabricated using innovative methods. Specifically, we will develop and characterise transparent composite materials comprising a dispersion of nano-sized inclusions within a polymer host. The properties of these materials will be tailored to allow fabrication of adaptive optical devices (e.g. tunable filters and optical switches), which will be key components in future high-performance optical systems. Inverse scattering design methods will be extended to design two-dimensional bandgap devices which will be fabricated by microstructuring of the composite polymer materials.Read moreRead less
One Step Pre-forms for Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibre. The pre-form rods this project yields will enable polymer optical fibre technology, just as suitable glass pre-forms enabled today's optical fibre. One-step casting techniques will yield PMMA rods with arrays of internal channels which can be empty, or filled with different clear polymer. Polymer microstructured optical fibre (PMOF) suitable for high bandwidth communications is then produced by drawing. It is urgently needed for local ....One Step Pre-forms for Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibre. The pre-form rods this project yields will enable polymer optical fibre technology, just as suitable glass pre-forms enabled today's optical fibre. One-step casting techniques will yield PMMA rods with arrays of internal channels which can be empty, or filled with different clear polymer. Polymer microstructured optical fibre (PMOF) suitable for high bandwidth communications is then produced by drawing. It is urgently needed for local communication networks in cars and buildings. Solid PMOF channels are new to this project, and should make PMOF easier to deploy. Nanoscale mapping of light transport modes and polymer defects will help validate channel designs.Read moreRead less
Microfluidic photonic systems. Australia is set to reap commercial benefits nationally and internationally from new developments in the highly competitive domain of microtechnology. In this project, a group of Australia's leading researchers propose an innovative combination of two exciting fields of scientific research. Microfluidics is the manipulation of minute quantities of liquids in microscopic channels, while photonics is the generation, transmission, detection and analysis of light as a ....Microfluidic photonic systems. Australia is set to reap commercial benefits nationally and internationally from new developments in the highly competitive domain of microtechnology. In this project, a group of Australia's leading researchers propose an innovative combination of two exciting fields of scientific research. Microfluidics is the manipulation of minute quantities of liquids in microscopic channels, while photonics is the generation, transmission, detection and analysis of light as a means to convey, collect and process information. The marriage of these two fields promises the development of novel, high performance tunable devices for sensing, biotechnology and telecommunications.Read moreRead less
Semiconductor Photonic Crystal Devices. Photonic crystals will be a key element of future all-optical ultra-highspeed photonic integrated circuits for telecommunications and signal processing. This project will pioneer new structures capable of manipulating light on integrated photonic chips, based on nano-scale features in semiconductors. This will have a significant impact on Australia's photonics industry.
Towards Photonic and Electronic Devices for High Indium Content Nitride Semiconductors. Nitride semiconductors are widely used in mobile phone and lighting applications. The Low Temperature Nitride Semiconductor Group at Macquarie University have specialized in improving the quality of these materials using growth techniques that will allow gallium nitride to become commercially viable for room lighting. In collaboration with researchers in Europe we intend to develop and exploit the next genera ....Towards Photonic and Electronic Devices for High Indium Content Nitride Semiconductors. Nitride semiconductors are widely used in mobile phone and lighting applications. The Low Temperature Nitride Semiconductor Group at Macquarie University have specialized in improving the quality of these materials using growth techniques that will allow gallium nitride to become commercially viable for room lighting. In collaboration with researchers in Europe we intend to develop and exploit the next generation of nitride materials for high-speed mobile communications and photonic applications. The team assembled for this project have excellent credentials in the development of these materials and, importantly, an excellent ability to probe and understand material phenomena.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346822
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,000.00
Summary
Polymer Optical Fibre Drawing Facility. A revolutionary new technology is emerging in polymer optical fibres, sparked by an important breakthrough in polymer optical fibres that was achieved last year by researchers at the University of Sydney. Therefore, Australia currently has a unique and short-lived opportunity to firmly establish themselves as the world leaders of this technology, provided the infrastructure to realise the novel concepts is available. We request funding for a high-quality p ....Polymer Optical Fibre Drawing Facility. A revolutionary new technology is emerging in polymer optical fibres, sparked by an important breakthrough in polymer optical fibres that was achieved last year by researchers at the University of Sydney. Therefore, Australia currently has a unique and short-lived opportunity to firmly establish themselves as the world leaders of this technology, provided the infrastructure to realise the novel concepts is available. We request funding for a high-quality polymer optical fibre draw tower to enable this. The collaborating institutions will be fabricating a range of different polymer optical fibres, targeting specific applications in optical sensing and telecommunications.Read moreRead less
Nano-Engineering of Optical Fibre Fresnel Lenses. It is expected that the development of the Fresnel Lens Fibre will greatly enhance the simplicity with which fibres can be integrated into a variety of systems. An intrinsically focussing fibre will be cheap to produce and have significant size advantages over its competitors, thus giving it an excellent competitive advantage in the market place. Australia is home to a number of companies that would directly benefit from the commercialisation of ....Nano-Engineering of Optical Fibre Fresnel Lenses. It is expected that the development of the Fresnel Lens Fibre will greatly enhance the simplicity with which fibres can be integrated into a variety of systems. An intrinsically focussing fibre will be cheap to produce and have significant size advantages over its competitors, thus giving it an excellent competitive advantage in the market place. Australia is home to a number of companies that would directly benefit from the commercialisation of a Fresnel Lens Fibre. In addition to a range of possible telecommunications applications, the focussing fibre also has applications in spectroscopy, minimally invasive surgical procedures, and especially in the field of photodynamic therapy. Read moreRead less