Active photonic and plasmonic components based on parity-time symmetry. This project intends to uncover and demonstrate experimentally the role of symmetry in space and time in nonlinear photonics and plasmonics, where light can change the optical properties of the medium. Based on these results, the project aims to build an integrated optical signal amplifier and an integrated generator of entangled photons with previously inaccessible ultra-fast broad-range control of operating regimes. These ....Active photonic and plasmonic components based on parity-time symmetry. This project intends to uncover and demonstrate experimentally the role of symmetry in space and time in nonlinear photonics and plasmonics, where light can change the optical properties of the medium. Based on these results, the project aims to build an integrated optical signal amplifier and an integrated generator of entangled photons with previously inaccessible ultra-fast broad-range control of operating regimes. These systems would have applications in future optical communication networks, ensuring fast, secure and energy efficient data transmission.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear near-field nanophotonics. This project aims to develop nanostructures which employ both high intrinsic nonlinearities and high indices of refraction to create nanophotonic devices. Silicon photonics promises a technological leap forward through efficient photon-photon interactions within lossless dielectric nanoparticles. Light-controlling-light devices open new ways to control light-matter interaction at the nanoscale, which form the basis for many applications from all-optical inform ....Nonlinear near-field nanophotonics. This project aims to develop nanostructures which employ both high intrinsic nonlinearities and high indices of refraction to create nanophotonic devices. Silicon photonics promises a technological leap forward through efficient photon-photon interactions within lossless dielectric nanoparticles. Light-controlling-light devices open new ways to control light-matter interaction at the nanoscale, which form the basis for many applications from all-optical information processing to biomedical sensing. The expected outcomes will provide Australia with advanced technologies of integrated optical circuits with applications in optical communication networks, bioimaging, solar cells and quantum information technologies.Read moreRead less
The best of both worlds: electrically detected optical spectroscopy at the single atom limit. One atom, one photon, one electron, in a silicon crystal. We will demonstrate a novel technique to detect the absorption of light by a single atom, in the most significant environment for nanoelectronics and photovoltaics. Our technique will help unravel how light is turned into electricity at the most microscopic and fundamental level.
Skin penetration of nanoparticles promoted by particle design, formulation and application method. This project seeks to better define the determinants of nanoparticle skin penetration and subsequent disposition in the body. The data would be used to guide minimal skin penetration of 'undesirable' nanoparticles and the properties required of 'safe' nanoparticles to enable effective human skin delivery in cosmetic and dermatological products.
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
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
Transition Metal Oxide Interfaces: Novel Emerging Functionalities. The project aims to investigate transition metal oxide heterostructures, which offer tremendous opportunities for fundamental research and future technological applications because they combine quantum size effects with effects of strong electron correlations such as magnetic switching, multiferroic coupling or superconductivity. Recent advances in growth methods such as pulsed laser deposition enable layer-by-layer growth with ....Transition Metal Oxide Interfaces: Novel Emerging Functionalities. The project aims to investigate transition metal oxide heterostructures, which offer tremendous opportunities for fundamental research and future technological applications because they combine quantum size effects with effects of strong electron correlations such as magnetic switching, multiferroic coupling or superconductivity. Recent advances in growth methods such as pulsed laser deposition enable layer-by-layer growth with atomic precision. The aim of this project is to combine complementary experimental methods (ie neutron scattering and optical spectroscopy), in order to gain a detailed insight into the magnetic and electronic properties of the heterostructures. This is designed to yield a deeper understanding of the underlying physics in order to help develop new materials for next-generation information technology.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.
Topological spin systems as basis for multifunctional materials. This project aims to investigate the fundamental properties (magnetic structure, surface topology, dynamics and interaction with external stimuli) of topological spin systems. Unconventional topological spin structures at the nanometre scale, such as skyrmions in chiral spin systems, could be used in ultra-low energy electronics and high density data storage. In particular, multi-ferroic skyrmion materials could directly control sk ....Topological spin systems as basis for multifunctional materials. This project aims to investigate the fundamental properties (magnetic structure, surface topology, dynamics and interaction with external stimuli) of topological spin systems. Unconventional topological spin structures at the nanometre scale, such as skyrmions in chiral spin systems, could be used in ultra-low energy electronics and high density data storage. In particular, multi-ferroic skyrmion materials could directly control skyrmions through an external electric field, which makes them ideal for nanoelectronics and data storage for IT applications. This project will create and investigate skyrmion materials as the basis for next generation computer and information technology in Australia.Read moreRead less
Catching the fast waves: high speed RF sensing using Brillouin scattering. This project aims to develop a room temperature approach to fast sensing of microwave electromagnetic waves by harnessing stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), simultaneously achieving high frequency range, high resolution and high-speed performance. This project expects to generate new knowledge in microwave photonics and SBS, specifically elucidating the transient temporal response of SBS. Expected outcomes of this pro ....Catching the fast waves: high speed RF sensing using Brillouin scattering. This project aims to develop a room temperature approach to fast sensing of microwave electromagnetic waves by harnessing stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), simultaneously achieving high frequency range, high resolution and high-speed performance. This project expects to generate new knowledge in microwave photonics and SBS, specifically elucidating the transient temporal response of SBS. Expected outcomes of this project include a proof of concept RF sensor that has multi-Gigahertz real-rime instantaneous bandwidth with high-resolution that can be miniaturized on to a chip. This compact RF sensor, will play a vital role for situational awareness in space, defence and communications applications. Read moreRead less