Nonlinear photonic crystals. Photonic crystals have recently became very attractive for photonic technology, that uses light instead of slow electrons as the information carriers replacing electronics in communications and information management. This project has the purpose to develop the fundamental concept of nonlinear photonic crystals and demonstrate their possible applications analysing the properties of the nonlinearity-induced light localization, nonlinear transmission, and frequency co ....Nonlinear photonic crystals. Photonic crystals have recently became very attractive for photonic technology, that uses light instead of slow electrons as the information carriers replacing electronics in communications and information management. This project has the purpose to develop the fundamental concept of nonlinear photonic crystals and demonstrate their possible applications analysing the properties of the nonlinearity-induced light localization, nonlinear transmission, and frequency conversion in band-gap materials with the intensity-dependent optical response. This will allow the possibility realising in practice nonlinear switching even for sharply bent waveguides, providing an effective way to control the flow of light in band-gap photonic circuits.Read moreRead less
Bifurcations of dissipative solitons. Fundamental research on the basic concepts of solitons in dissipative systems and their bifurcations is the next essential step for further progress in the science of optical pulse generators and amplifiers. Australia was the first country in the world to use self-organized ultra-short pulses, called solitons, in a commercially-deployed optical transmission line. This proposed new research will answer the question of how solitons behave at the ultimate limi ....Bifurcations of dissipative solitons. Fundamental research on the basic concepts of solitons in dissipative systems and their bifurcations is the next essential step for further progress in the science of optical pulse generators and amplifiers. Australia was the first country in the world to use self-organized ultra-short pulses, called solitons, in a commercially-deployed optical transmission line. This proposed new research will answer the question of how solitons behave at the ultimate limits of optics. New principles of ultra-short pulse generation and amplification, developed in our research, will provide the basis for an unprecedented increase in the capacity of optical transmission and processing of information.Read moreRead less
Dissipative soliton resonances and their applications. Many branches of science and technology, such as precise eye surgery, biological cell machinery, painless dentistry, optical data storage, material micro-machining and laser fusion, rely heavily on high power femtosecond pulse laser oscillators that deliver the necessary power, in a very short time, to nanometer scale targets within a tissue or a material. A further increase in the power of a pulse and a decrease in its duration, combined wi ....Dissipative soliton resonances and their applications. Many branches of science and technology, such as precise eye surgery, biological cell machinery, painless dentistry, optical data storage, material micro-machining and laser fusion, rely heavily on high power femtosecond pulse laser oscillators that deliver the necessary power, in a very short time, to nanometer scale targets within a tissue or a material. A further increase in the power of a pulse and a decrease in its duration, combined with a reduction in complexity and price can be achieved, but this advance depends strongly on the theory of dissipative solitons, and particularly on the idea of soliton resonances. Novel ideas developed within this project will put new productive tools in the hands of doctors, biologists and physicists.Read moreRead less
Solitons and localised structures in nonlocal nonlinear media. Solitons - localised waves existing in nonlinear media may propagate without changing their shape and interact with each other as real particles. They are ubiquitous in nature - exist in any system exhibiting dispersion and nonlinearity. This project aims to study theoretically and experimentally properties of beams and solitons in non-local nonlinear systems. It will lay out theoretical foundations of the nonlocal solitons and d ....Solitons and localised structures in nonlocal nonlinear media. Solitons - localised waves existing in nonlinear media may propagate without changing their shape and interact with each other as real particles. They are ubiquitous in nature - exist in any system exhibiting dispersion and nonlinearity. This project aims to study theoretically and experimentally properties of beams and solitons in non-local nonlinear systems. It will lay out theoretical foundations of the nonlocal solitons and demonstrate experimentally their unique features. This research will have an impact on understanding of the soliton phenomena in many fields including optics and matter waves, providing knowledge which may be subsequently transferred to practical technologies, such as in formation of optical circuits.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale nonlinear optics. Advances in nanotechnology have led to the realisation of nanoscale photonic components that enable integration within electronic chips. Now the challenge is to make these components perform computing functions themselves, thus providing ultra-high operation speeds and reducing power consumption. This project will utilize the intensity dependent interaction of light with metal-dielectric nanostructures to establish new processing functions of the photonic components. ....Nanoscale nonlinear optics. Advances in nanotechnology have led to the realisation of nanoscale photonic components that enable integration within electronic chips. Now the challenge is to make these components perform computing functions themselves, thus providing ultra-high operation speeds and reducing power consumption. This project will utilize the intensity dependent interaction of light with metal-dielectric nanostructures to establish new processing functions of the photonic components. Our research underpins integration of photonics in future generations of computers and enables novel applications in subwavelength optical imaging and sensing. This project will therefore strongly enhance the standing of Australia in the field of nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear optics of soft matter. This project will develop new strategies for the use and control of soft-matter systems by exploiting nonlinear interactions with light, and therefore falls into the Designated Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries - Breakthrough Science. With soft matter research being increasingly important for applications within industry and medicine, the emergence of new technology for control of nanoparticles could pr ....Nonlinear optics of soft matter. This project will develop new strategies for the use and control of soft-matter systems by exploiting nonlinear interactions with light, and therefore falls into the Designated Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries - Breakthrough Science. With soft matter research being increasingly important for applications within industry and medicine, the emergence of new technology for control of nanoparticles could provide significant benefits for the scientific community as well as Australian companies.
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Light control in nonlinear periodic structures. New technologies for precise control of light in microstructured periodic materials hold promises for breakthroughs in all-optical computing and communication areas. This project will develop novel concepts and innovative techniques to dynamically induce periodic structures in highly nonlinear materials for active control of light by light itself. It will combine experiment and theory to reveal and engineer the key aspects of light propagation in t ....Light control in nonlinear periodic structures. New technologies for precise control of light in microstructured periodic materials hold promises for breakthroughs in all-optical computing and communication areas. This project will develop novel concepts and innovative techniques to dynamically induce periodic structures in highly nonlinear materials for active control of light by light itself. It will combine experiment and theory to reveal and engineer the key aspects of light propagation in these structures, such as beam shaping and interactions. The outcome of this fundamental research will open-up new directions for technological advances in the photonics industry, with applications in all-optical switching and information storage.Read moreRead less
Beyond metamaterials: new composites for transforming photonics. Composites containing metamaterials, new materials with extraordinary electromagnetic properties, are opening new horizons in optical physics, with the potential to deliver a range of unprecedented functionalities. This project will clarify the exotic physics of these revolutionary new materials, leading to new photonics applications.
Putting stimulated Brillouin scattering to work: tailored optical-phononic interactions for on-chip signal processing. Light interacts with sound via a phenomenon called Brillouin scattering, an effect which is of major importance in modern nonlinear optics but is very difficult to control. Our pioneering project will open the door to low power optical devices and other diverse innovations that will support Australia's needs in defence and communications.
Optical parametric processes in randomized nonlinear photonic structures. This project will have an impact on understanding of the nonlinear optical effects in micron and sub-micron structures providing knowledge for potential practical applications. Innovative ideas emanating from this program will increase the national and international standing of the ANU and strengthen the reputation of Australia in the field of nonlinear photonics. The project will expand existing and create new collaborati ....Optical parametric processes in randomized nonlinear photonic structures. This project will have an impact on understanding of the nonlinear optical effects in micron and sub-micron structures providing knowledge for potential practical applications. Innovative ideas emanating from this program will increase the national and international standing of the ANU and strengthen the reputation of Australia in the field of nonlinear photonics. The project will expand existing and create new collaborative links with high profile international partners. It will also provide training and experience in the cutting edge research for graduate and undergraduate students.Read moreRead less