A brighter future: the pure-quartic soliton laser. This project aims to build an innovative, ultrafast laser based on the recent discovery of pure-quartic solitons, a new class of optical soliton. Investigating these solitons in their own right will provide new insights into the physics of soliton formation and propagation. The concept of the pure-quartic soliton laser is expected to lead to the transformation of ultrafast science and related applications with the benefit of to improving efficie ....A brighter future: the pure-quartic soliton laser. This project aims to build an innovative, ultrafast laser based on the recent discovery of pure-quartic solitons, a new class of optical soliton. Investigating these solitons in their own right will provide new insights into the physics of soliton formation and propagation. The concept of the pure-quartic soliton laser is expected to lead to the transformation of ultrafast science and related applications with the benefit of to improving efficiency, and significantly reducing the cost of high-energy ultrafast lasers. The project aims to provide benefits in ultrafast science, industrial materials processing, laser surgery, and molecular spectroscopy.Read moreRead less
Targeted light - optical mode control at the nanoscale. Nanophotonics provides a path for controlling the interaction of light and matter at the nanoscale. Using spatially tailored laser beams to address nano-particles, this project aims to create new approaches for specifically targeting light with nano-scale precision, which has valuable potential applications in biosensing and communications.
Resources for Quantum Networks. In classical information theory communication is an important resource. In quantum information theory there are the additional resources of entanglement and quantum communication. The aim of this project is to establish a complete theory of resources for quantum networks, by determining the relation between these resources, their symmetry properties, and effective ways of calculating capacities. Critical issues, such as the networking of quantum computers, quan ....Resources for Quantum Networks. In classical information theory communication is an important resource. In quantum information theory there are the additional resources of entanglement and quantum communication. The aim of this project is to establish a complete theory of resources for quantum networks, by determining the relation between these resources, their symmetry properties, and effective ways of calculating capacities. Critical issues, such as the networking of quantum computers, quantum teleportation and secure communication, require a complete theory of resources. The expected outcome of this project is a rigorous foundation for resources in quantum information that may be used to address these issues.Read moreRead less
Unshackling solitons through ultimate dispersion control. The project aims to generate and investigate several novel families of self-stabilising optical pulses by using a unique fibre laser we recently devised. By developing the associated theoretical models, the team will transform conceptual and experimental knowledge of nonlinear physics, providing deep insights into fibre lasers and the pulses they can emit. The expected outcomes are a complete understanding of entirely novel families of op ....Unshackling solitons through ultimate dispersion control. The project aims to generate and investigate several novel families of self-stabilising optical pulses by using a unique fibre laser we recently devised. By developing the associated theoretical models, the team will transform conceptual and experimental knowledge of nonlinear physics, providing deep insights into fibre lasers and the pulses they can emit. The expected outcomes are a complete understanding of entirely novel families of optical pulses, and of the degree to which the energy required to generate these pulses can be reduced. Reducing this energy means that these pulses can perform the same function at lower power, which will enable the emergence of new applications that will play powerful roles in the 21st-century economy.Read moreRead less
Entanglement as resource for quantum technology. This project focuses on groundbreaking research in quantum information theory, an exciting new area of fundamental physics that underpins the development of quantum technologies. Australia has already invested heavily in one particular quantum technology: computation. Our project, if successful, will enable an Australian research effort into other quantum technologies for communication, metrology, data storage and security. This project will as ....Entanglement as resource for quantum technology. This project focuses on groundbreaking research in quantum information theory, an exciting new area of fundamental physics that underpins the development of quantum technologies. Australia has already invested heavily in one particular quantum technology: computation. Our project, if successful, will enable an Australian research effort into other quantum technologies for communication, metrology, data storage and security. This project will assist in elevating Australia to a major international research centre in quantum information theory, complementing its existing strength in experiment, and will provide extensive training of early career researchers.Read moreRead less
Quantum-enhanced reference systems. Reference systems, such as gyroscopes and clocks, constructed out of individual atoms or photons can have an incredible precision limited only by the laws of quantum physics. This project will investigate how such reference systems can be constructed and will propose new state-of-the-art experiments which demonstrate their power. This project will provide a foundation for future technologies necessary for navigation and communication systems, and for high-prec ....Quantum-enhanced reference systems. Reference systems, such as gyroscopes and clocks, constructed out of individual atoms or photons can have an incredible precision limited only by the laws of quantum physics. This project will investigate how such reference systems can be constructed and will propose new state-of-the-art experiments which demonstrate their power. This project will provide a foundation for future technologies necessary for navigation and communication systems, and for high-precision measurements needed for scientific and engineering applications. It will resolve many pressing problems regarding the role of reference systems in quantum theory that are currently inhibiting progress in the field.Read moreRead less
Optical realisations of continuous-variable quantum information. The project aims to develop a framework for optical realisations of continuous-variable quantum information. Such realisations offer the potential for major technological advances in quantum information processing in the near future, but are currently impeded by the lack of a well-defined theoretical foundation. This project aims to construct such a foundation, including energy cutoffs, detector resolution, and finite resources. ....Optical realisations of continuous-variable quantum information. The project aims to develop a framework for optical realisations of continuous-variable quantum information. Such realisations offer the potential for major technological advances in quantum information processing in the near future, but are currently impeded by the lack of a well-defined theoretical foundation. This project aims to construct such a foundation, including energy cutoffs, detector resolution, and finite resources. Feasible experiments to test and exploit continuous-variable quantum information processing will be proposed. The resulting framework will allow the field to progress beyond proof-of-principle demonstrations and to develop new, technology-driven quantum information protocols.Read moreRead less
Using high-resolution lasers to test quantum electrodynamics. High-precision laser-based measurements of atomic and molecular structure are benchmarks for our fundamental understanding of matter. This project will undertake state-of-the-art experiments on atomic helium, to test and challenge current theoretical predictions of fundamental quantum-electrodynamic properties for helium and for more complex atoms.
Producing optimally short pulses at long wavelengths. This project aims to make the fluoride glass fibre platform the preferred material for generating ultrashort pulses at 2.8 nm and beyond. High power and efficiency from simple device architectures are essential for industry, medicine and defence. Modern sources of short pulses of light emitting mid-infrared wavelengths are complicated and inefficient. This project will improve fibre sources emitting short pulses and create the essential build ....Producing optimally short pulses at long wavelengths. This project aims to make the fluoride glass fibre platform the preferred material for generating ultrashort pulses at 2.8 nm and beyond. High power and efficiency from simple device architectures are essential for industry, medicine and defence. Modern sources of short pulses of light emitting mid-infrared wavelengths are complicated and inefficient. This project will improve fibre sources emitting short pulses and create the essential building blocks for future all-fibre arrangements that will be more robust. The sources are expected to have applications in non-linear optics and materials modification.Read moreRead less
Novel 2-photon atom manipulation for ultra-nanoscale processing of diamond. There is intense interest in exploiting diamond's remarkable properties in many fields of science and technology, but fabricating and processing devices remains a major challenge. This project will build on previous work, using a recently discovered novel laser-induced surface phenomenon that enables, for the first time for any material, the exciting prospect of using light to manipulate surface atoms with atomic precis ....Novel 2-photon atom manipulation for ultra-nanoscale processing of diamond. There is intense interest in exploiting diamond's remarkable properties in many fields of science and technology, but fabricating and processing devices remains a major challenge. This project will build on previous work, using a recently discovered novel laser-induced surface phenomenon that enables, for the first time for any material, the exciting prospect of using light to manipulate surface atoms with atomic precision. This project aims to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning the optical interaction to reveal its full potential and use it to address key problems in diamond nano-device fabrication that lie beyond the reach of current techniques. It is expected that the outcomes will directly enhance Australia's current strengths in diamond-based quantum and photonic technologies.Read moreRead less