Compact and versatile chip lasers for three-dimensional mine surveying. This project will bring together a world leading mine survey company, The University of Adelaide and Macquarie University researchers, to develop an 'eye-safe' micro laser for high resolution three-dimensional laser-mapping. The recently developed and patented 'chip' laser will allow the realisation of a compact, enhanced range laser-radar with unmatched resolution.
Short-pulse laser cleaning for Australian heritage conservation. Conserving heritage objects is a demanding discipline, requiring a suite of techniques for different problems. Overseas, laser cleaning using long pulse techniques leaves microscopic damage as discrete chunks of material are removed, and is unsuitable for many materials. We have developed a short pulse laser process which can remove material molecule-by-molecule in a controlled fashion, and which can be readily halted once the fi ....Short-pulse laser cleaning for Australian heritage conservation. Conserving heritage objects is a demanding discipline, requiring a suite of techniques for different problems. Overseas, laser cleaning using long pulse techniques leaves microscopic damage as discrete chunks of material are removed, and is unsuitable for many materials. We have developed a short pulse laser process which can remove material molecule-by-molecule in a controlled fashion, and which can be readily halted once the final finish is achieved. We will research this technique for application to unique Australian heritage materials that are important to the specific conservation needs of the Australian War Memorial, the RAAF, Navy and Army Museums, Artlab Australia, and the Art Gallery of NSW.Read moreRead less
Creating a national time and frequency network for Australia. This project will develop the means to distribute accurate time and frequency across the Australian continent via an optical fibre network. This network will meet the needs of future telecommunications, science and astronomy projects including the Australian bid for the Square Kilometre Array radio-astronomy project.
Australia’s first direct-detection dark matter search, at Stawell Gold Mine. This project aims to develop an underground integrated laboratory at Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria to host the Southern Hemisphere's first-ever direct-detection dark matter experiment. Following the Higgs boson discovery, the direct detection of dark matter is seen as the next major challenge for particle physics. This project sees Australian physicists team up with local and international partners in research and indus ....Australia’s first direct-detection dark matter search, at Stawell Gold Mine. This project aims to develop an underground integrated laboratory at Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria to host the Southern Hemisphere's first-ever direct-detection dark matter experiment. Following the Higgs boson discovery, the direct detection of dark matter is seen as the next major challenge for particle physics. This project sees Australian physicists team up with local and international partners in research and industry to join the search for dark matter. This Australian experiment aims to help to confirm or deny current results from Northern Hemisphere experiments. As the mine nears the end of its working life as a gold mine, this project is expected to benefit the local economy and provide opportunities for education and outreach.Read moreRead less
Photonic chip inertial movement sensors. This project aims to create a new class of optical inertial movement sensors using integrated photonic chip technology. By replacing optical fibre coils with compact waveguides, integrating light sources on-chip and by harnessing smart sensing approaches, we intend to reduce the required power from watts to milliwatts and reduce the dimensions from meters to centimetres. The expected project outcomes are sensors with military grade precision but with the ....Photonic chip inertial movement sensors. This project aims to create a new class of optical inertial movement sensors using integrated photonic chip technology. By replacing optical fibre coils with compact waveguides, integrating light sources on-chip and by harnessing smart sensing approaches, we intend to reduce the required power from watts to milliwatts and reduce the dimensions from meters to centimetres. The expected project outcomes are sensors with military grade precision but with the size, cost and manufacturability of consumer electronics. This technology will fill a strategic gap in the movement sensor market enabling applications ranging from robotic infrastructure monitoring, manufacture and surgery to guiding satellites and other space craft.Read moreRead less
Geomagnetic induced currents in the Australian electricity supply network. This project will develop measures to protect the Australian electricity supply network from adverse effects of enhanced solar activity. This is essential for risk assessment and long term asset management of the Australian electricity network.
Maximising the value of Australia’s sheepmeat industry with smart photonics. This project aims to investigate new photonics technologies to measure meat quality in lamb and mutton. It expects to develop new knowledge in the areas of fibre optics and 3D printing for use by the red meat and livestock industries. Expected outcomes of this project include development of a new technology to rapidly identify premium meat during meat processing. This should provide significant benefits for Australia’s ....Maximising the value of Australia’s sheepmeat industry with smart photonics. This project aims to investigate new photonics technologies to measure meat quality in lamb and mutton. It expects to develop new knowledge in the areas of fibre optics and 3D printing for use by the red meat and livestock industries. Expected outcomes of this project include development of a new technology to rapidly identify premium meat during meat processing. This should provide significant benefits for Australia’s red meat industry, helping to establish Australia as a leading supplier of high-quality meat to domestic and international markets.Read moreRead less
Polymer fibres: A game changer for THz high-capacity interconnects. The transition to a society with consuming enormous amounts of digital data has accentuated the need for high-speed data links. The project aims to create a novel class of polymer terahertz fibres to replace the current lossy wires that are bandwidth limited. This will be achieved through innovative microstructured fibre designs, cost-effective and scalable fibre fabrication, and integration of terahertz fibre in the next genera ....Polymer fibres: A game changer for THz high-capacity interconnects. The transition to a society with consuming enormous amounts of digital data has accentuated the need for high-speed data links. The project aims to create a novel class of polymer terahertz fibres to replace the current lossy wires that are bandwidth limited. This will be achieved through innovative microstructured fibre designs, cost-effective and scalable fibre fabrication, and integration of terahertz fibre in the next generation communication systems. The project outcomes are expected to put Australia at the forefront of the field of polymer terahertz fibre links, which will be a game changer for industries that require reliable and high-speed connections including telecom, automotive, space, datacentres, and image processing.
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Foundation technology for quantum measurement, sensing and computing. This project will advance quantum control of cold ions, atoms and diamond colour centres for application of quantum science to high-tech problems, from ion-based quantum computing to diamond-based quantum imaging inside living cells.
Optical technology for quantum science. This project aims to develop and commercialise optical cavity and frequency stabilisation technology to generate laser light at new and precise wavelengths. Australia plays a leading role internationally in quantum science, a burgeoning area of research where fundamental quantum mechanical principles underpin exciting new technological applications, such as ion-based quantum computing, ultracold atom sensing for geo-exploration and defence, and nanoscale i ....Optical technology for quantum science. This project aims to develop and commercialise optical cavity and frequency stabilisation technology to generate laser light at new and precise wavelengths. Australia plays a leading role internationally in quantum science, a burgeoning area of research where fundamental quantum mechanical principles underpin exciting new technological applications, such as ion-based quantum computing, ultracold atom sensing for geo-exploration and defence, and nanoscale imaging inside living human cells. This project aims to continue and develop this role.Read moreRead less