Creation of novel photonic and nanostructured materials by ablation of solids with ultra-fast lasers. This project will study of the production of technologically important thin film materials and nanostructured materials using our patented ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition process. Thin film materials required for future applications in photonics will be a priority. In addition ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition can be used to create nanopartilces and mechanisms affecting the growth of these ....Creation of novel photonic and nanostructured materials by ablation of solids with ultra-fast lasers. This project will study of the production of technologically important thin film materials and nanostructured materials using our patented ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition process. Thin film materials required for future applications in photonics will be a priority. In addition ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition can be used to create nanopartilces and mechanisms affecting the growth of these materials will be studied. The project therefore falls into two priority areas: photon science and nanotechnology. Outcomes in addition to new knowledge will include materials and processes with commercial potential.Read moreRead less
Integrated magneto-optic waveguide materials and devices. We aim to develop chalcogenide glass films for fabricating integrated waveguide magneto-optic (MO) devices as a radical alternative to the use of crystalline MO materials that have proven difficult to manufacture in integrated form. Using our ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition (UFPLD) technique we will produce a wide range of chalcogenide glass compositions through combinatorial materials synthesis and assess them for magneto-optic activ ....Integrated magneto-optic waveguide materials and devices. We aim to develop chalcogenide glass films for fabricating integrated waveguide magneto-optic (MO) devices as a radical alternative to the use of crystalline MO materials that have proven difficult to manufacture in integrated form. Using our ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition (UFPLD) technique we will produce a wide range of chalcogenide glass compositions through combinatorial materials synthesis and assess them for magneto-optic activity. UFPLD will also be used to deposit high optical quality films for device prototyping. We will design and fabricate prototype MO components which are essential, but currently unavailable, for use as optical isolators in integrated optics.Read moreRead less
Advanced Siloxane Waveguide Devices for Telecommunications. This project will develop new methods for fabricating compact, high performance photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for use in future telecommunications networks in films of proprietary Inorganic Polymer Glasses (IPGs) commercialised by RPO Pty Ltd. New fabrication methods are required to overcome limitations of the current approach to patterning IPGs used by RPO Pty Ltd. Research will concentrate on hard contact lithography in conjunct ....Advanced Siloxane Waveguide Devices for Telecommunications. This project will develop new methods for fabricating compact, high performance photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for use in future telecommunications networks in films of proprietary Inorganic Polymer Glasses (IPGs) commercialised by RPO Pty Ltd. New fabrication methods are required to overcome limitations of the current approach to patterning IPGs used by RPO Pty Ltd. Research will concentrate on hard contact lithography in conjunction with dry (plasma) etching as well as ion beam milling; laser machining or UV writing for grating production. IPGs present special challenges for these technologies. The project outcomes will include new approaches to processing and the demonstration of the fabrication of innovative PICs in IPGs.Read moreRead less
Rare Earth doped chalcogenide glass films for on-chip optical amplifiers. The project will contribute to Australia's strong record of achievement in photonics technology. It has the potential to migrate photonic chip technology for all-optical processing from laboratory demonstrations to a commercially viable technology. If this is achieved commercialisation through a start-up company will become possible. All-optical processing is an advanced technology that will help increase the speed and the ....Rare Earth doped chalcogenide glass films for on-chip optical amplifiers. The project will contribute to Australia's strong record of achievement in photonics technology. It has the potential to migrate photonic chip technology for all-optical processing from laboratory demonstrations to a commercially viable technology. If this is achieved commercialisation through a start-up company will become possible. All-optical processing is an advanced technology that will help increase the speed and the bandwidth of optical communications systems and the internet.Read moreRead less
Barium Strontium Titanate Thin Films for Tunable Microwave Applications. Australian businesses rely on information and communications technologies (ICT) in order to remain competitive in the global economy. Over the last decade or so, ICT has also found applications in consumer devices, many of which are wireless. This has lead to strong growth in the market for such technologies. Barium strontium titanate (BST) devices can be used to enhance the efficiency and lower the cost of radio frequency ....Barium Strontium Titanate Thin Films for Tunable Microwave Applications. Australian businesses rely on information and communications technologies (ICT) in order to remain competitive in the global economy. Over the last decade or so, ICT has also found applications in consumer devices, many of which are wireless. This has lead to strong growth in the market for such technologies. Barium strontium titanate (BST) devices can be used to enhance the efficiency and lower the cost of radio frequency devices to make wireless technology more accessible for the Australian community. Additionally, BST devices can be applied for frequency agile applications, which are invaluable for the Australian defence sector.Read moreRead less
Fibre amplifiers and lasers with enhanced and novel functionality based on novel fibre fabricated by chelate modified chemical vapour deposition. This project will explore the application of a novel technique of fibre fabrication (chelate delivery in MCVD) to rare-earth doped fibres for fibre lasers and amplifiers. The chelate technique allows much greater control of the doping than has previously been possible. Higher rare-earth concentrations and greater control over dopant placement will perm ....Fibre amplifiers and lasers with enhanced and novel functionality based on novel fibre fabricated by chelate modified chemical vapour deposition. This project will explore the application of a novel technique of fibre fabrication (chelate delivery in MCVD) to rare-earth doped fibres for fibre lasers and amplifiers. The chelate technique allows much greater control of the doping than has previously been possible. Higher rare-earth concentrations and greater control over dopant placement will permit fibre lasers and amplifiers with increased and novel functionality.Read moreRead less
NOVEL MICROWAVE TECHNOLOGIES AND DESIGN TECHNIQUES FOR MULTILAYER CIRCUITS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS. Miniaturization of mobile handsets and other wireless equipment is limited by the slow progress in integrating passive elements. Two novel technologies Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC) and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) offer the capacity to significantly miniaturise RF and microwave circuits and increase their efficiency and capabilities. The proposal deals with development o ....NOVEL MICROWAVE TECHNOLOGIES AND DESIGN TECHNIQUES FOR MULTILAYER CIRCUITS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS. Miniaturization of mobile handsets and other wireless equipment is limited by the slow progress in integrating passive elements. Two novel technologies Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC) and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) offer the capacity to significantly miniaturise RF and microwave circuits and increase their efficiency and capabilities. The proposal deals with development of novel microwave technologies and techniques for optimization, characterization, simulation, design and fabrication of advanced LTCC materials and LTCC and MEMS based miniaturized circuits for 3G and beyond of Wireless Communication. The outcomes of the project will be of significant benefit to the Australian Telecommunications industry.Read moreRead less
NOVEL STUCTURES AND MATERIALS IN MICROSTRUCTURED POLYMER OPTICAL FIBRES. Last year we succeeded in fabricating the microstructured polymer optical fibres (MPOF). This work means that the fabrication constraints applying to similar glass fibres can be overcome, and entirely new types of structures can be investigated. As polymers can contain a much larger variety of dopants than glass the material properties of MPOF can also be fully exploited to develop new fibre functionalities. The combination ....NOVEL STUCTURES AND MATERIALS IN MICROSTRUCTURED POLYMER OPTICAL FIBRES. Last year we succeeded in fabricating the microstructured polymer optical fibres (MPOF). This work means that the fabrication constraints applying to similar glass fibres can be overcome, and entirely new types of structures can be investigated. As polymers can contain a much larger variety of dopants than glass the material properties of MPOF can also be fully exploited to develop new fibre functionalities. The combination of structural and material flexibility possible in MPOF offer the opportunity to radically redefine what is possible in microstructured fibres. It is these possibilities that we aim to explore in this project.Read moreRead less
Adaptive optical devices by microstructuring of nanocomposite materials. This project will develop novel nanocomposite materials and use them to fabricate adaptive optical devices designed and fabricated using innovative methods. Specifically, we will develop and characterise transparent composite materials comprising a dispersion of nano-sized inclusions within a polymer host. The properties of these materials will be tailored to allow fabrication of adaptive optical devices (e.g. tunable filte ....Adaptive optical devices by microstructuring of nanocomposite materials. This project will develop novel nanocomposite materials and use them to fabricate adaptive optical devices designed and fabricated using innovative methods. Specifically, we will develop and characterise transparent composite materials comprising a dispersion of nano-sized inclusions within a polymer host. The properties of these materials will be tailored to allow fabrication of adaptive optical devices (e.g. tunable filters and optical switches), which will be key components in future high-performance optical systems. Inverse scattering design methods will be extended to design two-dimensional bandgap devices which will be fabricated by microstructuring of the composite polymer materials.Read moreRead less
One Step Pre-forms for Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibre. The pre-form rods this project yields will enable polymer optical fibre technology, just as suitable glass pre-forms enabled today's optical fibre. One-step casting techniques will yield PMMA rods with arrays of internal channels which can be empty, or filled with different clear polymer. Polymer microstructured optical fibre (PMOF) suitable for high bandwidth communications is then produced by drawing. It is urgently needed for local ....One Step Pre-forms for Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibre. The pre-form rods this project yields will enable polymer optical fibre technology, just as suitable glass pre-forms enabled today's optical fibre. One-step casting techniques will yield PMMA rods with arrays of internal channels which can be empty, or filled with different clear polymer. Polymer microstructured optical fibre (PMOF) suitable for high bandwidth communications is then produced by drawing. It is urgently needed for local communication networks in cars and buildings. Solid PMOF channels are new to this project, and should make PMOF easier to deploy. Nanoscale mapping of light transport modes and polymer defects will help validate channel designs.Read moreRead less