Advancing x-ray imaging into new dimensions using interferometry and phase-space tomography. Synchrotron science and nanofabrication technologies are priority investment areas for most industrial countries including Australia. This research program takes advantages of recent progress in these fields and aims to advance x-ray imaging techniques of high sensitivity and low radiation dose and retrieve all extractable information of an object encoded in a wavefield. The development of these techniqu ....Advancing x-ray imaging into new dimensions using interferometry and phase-space tomography. Synchrotron science and nanofabrication technologies are priority investment areas for most industrial countries including Australia. This research program takes advantages of recent progress in these fields and aims to advance x-ray imaging techniques of high sensitivity and low radiation dose and retrieve all extractable information of an object encoded in a wavefield. The development of these techniques is critical to future opportunities of frontier discoveries of the biological, nano and atomic world. Its application includes structural biology, medical diagnosis, biomedicine, material sciences and many other fields.Read moreRead less
Singular optics of polychromatic light. This project targets fundamental research in the emerging field of nonlinear singular optics with polychromatic light. It underpins new technological advances in the field of photonics, where Australia has built strong expertise and plays a significant role in the international development. This research will assist in the development of new type of photonic applications, where the spatial and spectral coherence of light plays a key role. Therefore our pro ....Singular optics of polychromatic light. This project targets fundamental research in the emerging field of nonlinear singular optics with polychromatic light. It underpins new technological advances in the field of photonics, where Australia has built strong expertise and plays a significant role in the international development. This research will assist in the development of new type of photonic applications, where the spatial and spectral coherence of light plays a key role. Therefore our project will contribute to the designated priority area 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' by providing fundamental understanding of novel physical phenomena and by building experimental and theoretical basis for new photonic technologies.Read moreRead less
Low threshold photonic crystal microlasers. The aims of this project are to develop detailed finite-difference time-domain numerical models of active photonic crystal structures, and to use them to optimise the design and performance of photonic-crystal-based devices, especially micro-cavity lasers. Photonic crystal microlasers have the potential to provide very efficient and low noise laser sources in micron-sized cavities, however the simplistic structures used to realise these lasers to date ....Low threshold photonic crystal microlasers. The aims of this project are to develop detailed finite-difference time-domain numerical models of active photonic crystal structures, and to use them to optimise the design and performance of photonic-crystal-based devices, especially micro-cavity lasers. Photonic crystal microlasers have the potential to provide very efficient and low noise laser sources in micron-sized cavities, however the simplistic structures used to realise these lasers to date provide sub-optimal performance. Innovative designs with improved performance will be developed by tailoring both the optical and thermal properties of planar photonic crystal stuctures. Devices designed during this project will subsequently be fabricated at facilities in France.Read moreRead less
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
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
Light-Matter Interactions In Nanoparticle-doped Microstructured Polymer Fibres. Microstructured optical fibres have been defined as the 'next generation' of optical fibres. This proposal offers the opportunity to make major advances in this dynamic new area, not only changing the fibre properties by means of its microstructured but also by its material properties. The proposed research will enable us to fabricate new types of optical fibre by exploiting three completely different technologies: p ....Light-Matter Interactions In Nanoparticle-doped Microstructured Polymer Fibres. Microstructured optical fibres have been defined as the 'next generation' of optical fibres. This proposal offers the opportunity to make major advances in this dynamic new area, not only changing the fibre properties by means of its microstructured but also by its material properties. The proposed research will enable us to fabricate new types of optical fibre by exploiting three completely different technologies: polymer materials, microstructured polymer fibres (mPOF) and nanoparticles. This project will build on our existing success in developing mPOF, and create major new opportunities, both in fundamental science and in applications that could and would be commercialised.Read moreRead less
Non-Gaussian states and entanglement distillation for Continuous Variable quantum information protocols. Amplifiers are important devices for electronic, computer as well as telecommunication industries. In the quantum world where light's corpuscular nature is prominent, amplification of a beam of light will have its associated noise penalty. This noise penalty sets limit to many quantum optical applications. This proposal aims to use a method based on conditional detection to realize a 'noisel ....Non-Gaussian states and entanglement distillation for Continuous Variable quantum information protocols. Amplifiers are important devices for electronic, computer as well as telecommunication industries. In the quantum world where light's corpuscular nature is prominent, amplification of a beam of light will have its associated noise penalty. This noise penalty sets limit to many quantum optical applications. This proposal aims to use a method based on conditional detection to realize a 'noiseless linear amplifier' that has no noise penalty probabilistically. Realization of this key device is central to extending the range of quantum communication, such as quantum cryptography. It also has applications in quantum computing and the potential to enhance sensitive measurements.Read moreRead less
Studies of near-field optical emission from waveguides and photonic crystals. Advanced optical materials and photonic devices require microscopic feature sizes close to the wavelength of light, challenging the limits of conventional fabrication and characterisation techniques (often developed in parallel). With extensive expertise in near-field optical modelling, Dr Rahmani will target specific problems associated with the characterisation of actual photonic devices. This will improve device de ....Studies of near-field optical emission from waveguides and photonic crystals. Advanced optical materials and photonic devices require microscopic feature sizes close to the wavelength of light, challenging the limits of conventional fabrication and characterisation techniques (often developed in parallel). With extensive expertise in near-field optical modelling, Dr Rahmani will target specific problems associated with the characterisation of actual photonic devices. This will improve device design and fabrication, enabling the development of more efficient, compact lasers and other devices. Economic and social benefits are expected from resulting improvements in optical processing, and the potential for new jobs and industries in this field.Read moreRead less
Quantum and atom optics. The applicant leads a highly successful group of young investigators, achieving internationally acclaimed work in quantum optics. Photonics technology is now at the brink of using the full advantage of quantum mechanics, through the concept of quantum information in optical and atomic systems. The experiments at the ANU group can provide new applications to the photonics industry, in particular in communication, sensing and microscopy. The proposed work is expected to ....Quantum and atom optics. The applicant leads a highly successful group of young investigators, achieving internationally acclaimed work in quantum optics. Photonics technology is now at the brink of using the full advantage of quantum mechanics, through the concept of quantum information in optical and atomic systems. The experiments at the ANU group can provide new applications to the photonics industry, in particular in communication, sensing and microscopy. The proposed work is expected to create fundamental research and generate future commercial opportunities in an area where Australian science is at the leading edge of research and the international demand is rising.Read moreRead less
Advances in Quantum Imaging and Quantum Memory using Squeezed Light and Entanglement. Maintaining a leading position in fundamental research will always result in directly related technologies or spin-offs. Being the first to demonstrate a Quantum Memory and spatial entanglement will guarantee Australia a leading role in two promising quantum research fields. High sensitive position measurements as used in Atomic Force Microscopy can directly benefit from developments of this project. The demons ....Advances in Quantum Imaging and Quantum Memory using Squeezed Light and Entanglement. Maintaining a leading position in fundamental research will always result in directly related technologies or spin-offs. Being the first to demonstrate a Quantum Memory and spatial entanglement will guarantee Australia a leading role in two promising quantum research fields. High sensitive position measurements as used in Atomic Force Microscopy can directly benefit from developments of this project. The demonstration of a Quantum Memory for continuous variables will boost the progress in the realisation of a future quantum network. The participation at a high level in the Quantum research community will bring worldwide recognition to Australia.Read moreRead less