Sub-wavelength light confinement. This project will introduce and demonstrate new concepts for confining and patterning light on sub-wavelength scales. Building on Australian expertise in optical fibre technologies, this fundamental research will enhance Australia's position at the forefront of international research in the nanoscale control of light. These concepts also promise to lead to patentable new tools for ultra high-resolution imaging and for manipulating materials. This project will en ....Sub-wavelength light confinement. This project will introduce and demonstrate new concepts for confining and patterning light on sub-wavelength scales. Building on Australian expertise in optical fibre technologies, this fundamental research will enhance Australia's position at the forefront of international research in the nanoscale control of light. These concepts also promise to lead to patentable new tools for ultra high-resolution imaging and for manipulating materials. This project will enhance Australia's international links, build on a range of national research programs, and provide training of researchers in photonics, which will be of benefit to Australian industry and research.Read moreRead less
Nanodiamond in glass: a new approach to nanosensing. This work will develop optical materials enriched with diamond nanoparticles. This will enable the magnetic field sensitivity of diamond nanoparticles to be combined with the capacity of micro/nanostructured optical fibres to enhance the interaction of light with matter. The outcome will be tools for probing biological processes on the nanoscale.
Ultrafast, near infrared laser sources using fibre-based optical parametric oscillators. This project will use microstructured optical fibres and nonlinear optics to create compact and cheap laser sources in the near infrared spectrum to replace the bulky and expensive devices in many spectroscopic and biophotonic applications today. The work will further enhance Australia's standing in the field of nonlinear optics and optical fibres.
High power optical systems for advanced interferometry - an ACIGA project. Direct detection of gravitational waves will open a whole new window on the Universe for mankind and is the most significant quest in modern Physics. We aim to continue as partners in this effort through our major contributions to an increase of detector sensitivity. We will develop and test critical new concepts and components, including high power ultra stable lasers, new methods for optical wavefront sensing and correc ....High power optical systems for advanced interferometry - an ACIGA project. Direct detection of gravitational waves will open a whole new window on the Universe for mankind and is the most significant quest in modern Physics. We aim to continue as partners in this effort through our major contributions to an increase of detector sensitivity. We will develop and test critical new concepts and components, including high power ultra stable lasers, new methods for optical wavefront sensing and correction, and new reflective and diffractive components for high power optical interferometers. This research will greatly enhance Australian scientific standing, strengthen scientific collaboration internationally and within Australia, and contribute to education in photonics.Read moreRead less
New materials and structures for next generation optical fibres. A soft glass optical fibre capability of critical importance to Australia's industrial and scientific capability will be established. This facility addresses a range of the National Research Priorities, most notably Defence, and brings fundamentally important technology to Australia. The proposed research capability strategically complements existing Australian silica-based fibre expertise and infrastructure. The aim is to develop ....New materials and structures for next generation optical fibres. A soft glass optical fibre capability of critical importance to Australia's industrial and scientific capability will be established. This facility addresses a range of the National Research Priorities, most notably Defence, and brings fundamentally important technology to Australia. The proposed research capability strategically complements existing Australian silica-based fibre expertise and infrastructure. The aim is to develop soft glass fibres for defence applications, and to develop fibre-based solutions for emerging applications in bionanophotonics. A key attraction of the platform technology proposed is its adaptability for testing concepts without requiring the support of large-scale fabrication and production industries.Read moreRead less
Development of modal control systems for adaptive optics. This project will develop a simple, robust and low-cost modal servo system for dynamic control and correction of the propagation and focussing properties of light beams. This new system will incorporate a novel optical sensor, which will be developed in this project, and a new optical corrector being developed at the University of Durham. Currently available astronomical adaptive-optics systems have produced excellent results but are expe ....Development of modal control systems for adaptive optics. This project will develop a simple, robust and low-cost modal servo system for dynamic control and correction of the propagation and focussing properties of light beams. This new system will incorporate a novel optical sensor, which will be developed in this project, and a new optical corrector being developed at the University of Durham. Currently available astronomical adaptive-optics systems have produced excellent results but are expensive and complicated. A low-cost alternative will dramatically increase the use of adaptive optics in industrial, environmental and medical applications. The compensation of distortions in low-cost optical atmospheric sensors will be demonstrated.Read moreRead less
Ultra-sensitive third-generation gravitational wave detectors. Second-generation gravitational wave detectors that will directly detect gravitational waves for the first time are currently being assembled. Their sensitivity will be limited by intrinsic thermal motion of the atoms in the mirror coatings and the quantum nature of the laser beams in the detectors. This project aims to develop new designs with the aim of circumventing these limitations and developing the ultra-sensitive optical metr ....Ultra-sensitive third-generation gravitational wave detectors. Second-generation gravitational wave detectors that will directly detect gravitational waves for the first time are currently being assembled. Their sensitivity will be limited by intrinsic thermal motion of the atoms in the mirror coatings and the quantum nature of the laser beams in the detectors. This project aims to develop new designs with the aim of circumventing these limitations and developing the ultra-sensitive optical metrology required to realise those designs. It is expected that the increased sensitivity of these third-generation detectors will allow more detailed measurement of the gravitational wave signals and provide unprecedented understanding of some of the most violent events in the universe.Read moreRead less
Excitation spectra of quantum chromodynamics. Just as quantum electrodynamics describes the quantum mechanical excitation spectra of atomic systems, quantum chromodynamics (QCD) describes the excitation spectra of quark and gluon systems, such as the proton. This project will resolve the interactions underpinning the excitations of QCD, as being investigated at international facilities.
Elucidating the role of quantum electrodynamics in hadron properties. This project will explore the fundamental mechanisms of nature making the neutron heavier than the proton; governing which nuclei are stable; and determining the current state of the Universe. Drawing on substantial supercomputing resources made available through international collaboration, this project will perform the first ab-initio simulation combining the quantum field theories governing elementary quarks, gluons, electr ....Elucidating the role of quantum electrodynamics in hadron properties. This project will explore the fundamental mechanisms of nature making the neutron heavier than the proton; governing which nuclei are stable; and determining the current state of the Universe. Drawing on substantial supercomputing resources made available through international collaboration, this project will perform the first ab-initio simulation combining the quantum field theories governing elementary quarks, gluons, electrons and photons; namely quantum chromodynamics and quantum electrodynamics. This project will develop novel theoretical and numerical techniques to confront the otherwise elusive electromagnetic contributions to hadronic properties and in doing so, address a wide range of important aspects of hadron structure and interactions.Read moreRead less
Structure of Hadronic Excitations from Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. Quantum chromodynamics describes the fundamental strong interactions between quarks and gluons as they compose hadrons such as the proton or neutron. Beyond these lowest-energy systems, the quantum mechanical excitation spectra display a rich and complex structure. Remarkably, little is known about the internal structure of these states. The central goal of this project is to unveil the nature of hadrons and their excited sta ....Structure of Hadronic Excitations from Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. Quantum chromodynamics describes the fundamental strong interactions between quarks and gluons as they compose hadrons such as the proton or neutron. Beyond these lowest-energy systems, the quantum mechanical excitation spectra display a rich and complex structure. Remarkably, little is known about the internal structure of these states. The central goal of this project is to unveil the nature of hadrons and their excited states using the first principles approach of lattice gauge theory. By elucidating aspects of hadron structure in terms of the most fundamental non-perturbative quark and gluon fields, the project will create new knowledge impacting on renowned experimental programs at international facilities.Read moreRead less