Unlocking the ultraviolet. This project will develop a new class of ultra-short-pulse and broadly tunable laser with performance in the ultraviolet that is unobtainable from current infrared-based laser technologies. Our invention will unlock the elusive ultraviolet part of the spectrum to allow new discoveries in fundamental science and to drive twenty-first-century technologies.
A versatile optical wavelength and mode switching device for future telecommunication networks. This project will develop a next generation switching device for future fibre optical communication networks that will divide their information among several modes of specialty fibre. This device will be a key component for allowing network operators to move to these novel mode-multiplexed networks in order to overcome the looming capacity crunch.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100203
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Ultrafast optoelectronic characterisation for optical and wireless systems. Ultra-fast optoelectronic characterisation for optical and wireless systems:
The project aims to establish an ultra-fast optoelectronic characterisation facility to measure a wide range of electronic and photonic signals, providing versatile tools for conducting research on ultra-high-speed optical communications, microwave photonics, and millimetre wave systems. There is an increasing need for parallel signalling using ....Ultrafast optoelectronic characterisation for optical and wireless systems. Ultra-fast optoelectronic characterisation for optical and wireless systems:
The project aims to establish an ultra-fast optoelectronic characterisation facility to measure a wide range of electronic and photonic signals, providing versatile tools for conducting research on ultra-high-speed optical communications, microwave photonics, and millimetre wave systems. There is an increasing need for parallel signalling using spatial, temporal and spectral degrees of freedom in both radio-frequency and optical communications. The facility expects to leverage the recent rapid advances in powerful silicon digital signal processors with unprecedented capabilities in bandwidth and accuracy and focus on detecting massively parallel signals. The project aims to support a wide range of research activities from sustaining the phenomenal Internet growth in telecommunications to strengthening Australia’s defence systems.Read moreRead less
Through a glass brightly: opening up the mid-infrared using dysprosium ions. By exploiting the dysprosium ion in a unique and practical way, the project will create high power mid-infrared light with unprecedented optical efficiency. The project will make use of the unusually wide fluorescence spectrum of the dysprosium ion to produce stable and bandwidth-limited ultra-fast light pulses in the mid-infrared. The proposed light sources will have application in mid-infrared nonlinear optics and wil ....Through a glass brightly: opening up the mid-infrared using dysprosium ions. By exploiting the dysprosium ion in a unique and practical way, the project will create high power mid-infrared light with unprecedented optical efficiency. The project will make use of the unusually wide fluorescence spectrum of the dysprosium ion to produce stable and bandwidth-limited ultra-fast light pulses in the mid-infrared. The proposed light sources will have application in mid-infrared nonlinear optics and will benefit medicine, defence, fundamental physics and manufacturing providing excellent opportunities for Australian research, industry and collaboration.Read moreRead less
Enabling on-chip mid-infrared laser technology by overcoming parasitic loss in Group IV semiconductors. Miniaturised and on-chip mid-infrared lasers are needed in many fields, particularly defence, medicine and environmental sensing. This project will overcome problems in key semiconductor materials to create practical devices with the properties needed to address challenges of national security and commercial importance.
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.
Designing a spectrometer to search for life on extrasolar planets. Finding indicators of life on extrasolar planets is one of the greatest science questions of our time. Astronomers have found rocky, earth-like exoplanets; now we need powerful spectrometers to search for biomarkers in their atmospheres, detecting the faint imprints from molecules associated with life in the colour spectrum of stars. This project will develop the instruments and technologies required to enable spectroscopy with m ....Designing a spectrometer to search for life on extrasolar planets. Finding indicators of life on extrasolar planets is one of the greatest science questions of our time. Astronomers have found rocky, earth-like exoplanets; now we need powerful spectrometers to search for biomarkers in their atmospheres, detecting the faint imprints from molecules associated with life in the colour spectrum of stars. This project will develop the instruments and technologies required to enable spectroscopy with massively multiplexed telescopes. A spectrometer design with large spectral bandwidth and high resolution, optimised for a facility consisting of thousands of small telescopes, and novel optical fibres to link them, will open the door for breakthrough science requiring an entirely new class of telescope.Read moreRead less
A Multi-Optrode Array for Closed-Loop Bionics. We will design, implement and characterise a disruptive multi-channel optrode array (MOA) to record and stimulate excitable living tissue. The MOA will be a combination of individual optical electrodes (optrodes) that either comprise a new class of liquid crystals, used to passively sense extracellular biopotentials, or microphotovoltaic cells that will be used for electrical stimulation of excitable tissue. By employing light for communication with ....A Multi-Optrode Array for Closed-Loop Bionics. We will design, implement and characterise a disruptive multi-channel optrode array (MOA) to record and stimulate excitable living tissue. The MOA will be a combination of individual optical electrodes (optrodes) that either comprise a new class of liquid crystals, used to passively sense extracellular biopotentials, or microphotovoltaic cells that will be used for electrical stimulation of excitable tissue. By employing light for communication with optrodes, this new approach alleviates many of the wiring, packaging and encapsulation issues associated with existing devices. Computational modelling and in vitro testing in cardiac tissue and retinal neurons will demonstrate the utility of the MOA to sense and control electrical activity.Read moreRead less
Design of an optrode for next generation brain-machine interfaces. The project plans to use a new class of liquid crystals – deformed helix ferroelectric (DHF) liquid crystal – to sense extracellular biopotentials. In response to an applied electrical field, it has been shown that DHF crystals can modulate a polarised light source with extraordinary sensitivity and linear response down to the microvolt range. Using this technology, the project plans to initially design and test a single optrode ....Design of an optrode for next generation brain-machine interfaces. The project plans to use a new class of liquid crystals – deformed helix ferroelectric (DHF) liquid crystal – to sense extracellular biopotentials. In response to an applied electrical field, it has been shown that DHF crystals can modulate a polarised light source with extraordinary sensitivity and linear response down to the microvolt range. Using this technology, the project plans to initially design and test a single optrode device on the bench, before in vitro testing and characterisation using two-photon microscopy. The final design would be a higher density sensor array using a fibre optic source and multiple optical couplers. This may support the development of new ways to implant sensing and diagnostic devices in the body.Read moreRead less
Control of light in space and time in multimode optical fibres. This project aims to create devices to measure and manipulate the spatial and temporal properties of light. The ability to control or measure the spatial and/or temporal properties of light is a fundamental feature of many applications, including biomedical imaging, astronomy, telecommunications, high-power lasers and quantum computing. This project will develop five prototype systems to control the spatiotemporal properties of ligh ....Control of light in space and time in multimode optical fibres. This project aims to create devices to measure and manipulate the spatial and temporal properties of light. The ability to control or measure the spatial and/or temporal properties of light is a fundamental feature of many applications, including biomedical imaging, astronomy, telecommunications, high-power lasers and quantum computing. This project will develop five prototype systems to control the spatiotemporal properties of light in ways that were previously not possible. This would affect fundamental and applied applications where the inability to sufficiently control light’s spatial and/or temporal properties is an impediment. Examples include imaging deep into ‘opaque’ objects such as human skin or brain, high-power lasers for material processing and manufacturing, optical telecommunications and quantum computation.Read moreRead less