Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100072
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Facility for exploring light-matter interactions in space, time and energy. This project aims to create a readily accessible facility consisting of a suite of tools to study light-matter interactions in materials, molecules and biological systems. Understanding light-matter interactions offers insight into the properties of nano- and biomaterials. The project intends to combine local probes and pump-probe spectroscopy methods for studying nanoscale femtosecond dynamics. It will be accessible to ....Facility for exploring light-matter interactions in space, time and energy. This project aims to create a readily accessible facility consisting of a suite of tools to study light-matter interactions in materials, molecules and biological systems. Understanding light-matter interactions offers insight into the properties of nano- and biomaterials. The project intends to combine local probes and pump-probe spectroscopy methods for studying nanoscale femtosecond dynamics. It will be accessible to a broad user base, cementing Australia’s leadership in ultrafast spectroscopy techniques and nano/bio-materials. The facility will provide a window to the quantum nanoworld, with potential for developing new energy efficient light sources, light-harvesting systems and sensors.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems. This Centre aims to build sophisticated quantum machines to harness the quantum world for the future health, economy, environment and security of Australian society. It intends to pioneer the designer quantum materials, engines and imaging systems at the heart of these machines. It also solves the most challenging research problems at the interface of basic quantum physics and engineering. The Centre will work with industry partners to tra ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems. This Centre aims to build sophisticated quantum machines to harness the quantum world for the future health, economy, environment and security of Australian society. It intends to pioneer the designer quantum materials, engines and imaging systems at the heart of these machines. It also solves the most challenging research problems at the interface of basic quantum physics and engineering. The Centre will work with industry partners to translate these research discoveries into practical applications and devices. It will train scientists in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, which is expected to affect Australia’s high-tech economy.Read moreRead less
Quantum enhancement of long baseline gravitational wave detectors. This project will design and construct a quantum optical system which when used in future long baseline gravitational wave detectors will enhance sensitivity across their detection frequency band, from 10 Hz to 10 kHz. This project will use this system on small scale optical sensors to prove the concept. In so doing, it will use squeezing to reduce quantum radiation pressure noise for the first time. This system will then be read ....Quantum enhancement of long baseline gravitational wave detectors. This project will design and construct a quantum optical system which when used in future long baseline gravitational wave detectors will enhance sensitivity across their detection frequency band, from 10 Hz to 10 kHz. This project will use this system on small scale optical sensors to prove the concept. In so doing, it will use squeezing to reduce quantum radiation pressure noise for the first time. This system will then be ready for deployment on an early upgrade of Advanced LIGO increasing the science output of this detector, turning gravitational wave detection into gravitational wave astronomy.Read moreRead less
Optical tweezers as a micro-rheological probe of soft surfaces. Biomembranes are more than soft containers - their dynamic flexibility plays an important role in cell function, but measurements of mechanical properties of soft surfaces are non-existent. This project develops and applies a new optical tweezers method to measure the flexibility of membranes and its effects upon the friction of nearby particles.
ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology. This Centre aims to implement quantum processors able to run error corrected algorithms and transfer information across networks with absolute security. Australian researchers have established global leadership in quantum information, an innovative technology which could transform all industries dependent on computational power. This Centre has developed technologies for manipulating matter and light at the level of i ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology. This Centre aims to implement quantum processors able to run error corrected algorithms and transfer information across networks with absolute security. Australian researchers have established global leadership in quantum information, an innovative technology which could transform all industries dependent on computational power. This Centre has developed technologies for manipulating matter and light at the level of individual atoms and photons, with the highest fidelity, longest coherence time qubits in the solid state, the world’s longest-lived quantum memory, and the ability to run small-scale algorithms on photonic qubits. The new technology is expected to provide a strategic advantage in a world where information and information security are of paramount importance.Read moreRead less
Instrumentation for the era of gravitational wave science. This project aims to study noise sources that limit the low-frequency performance of gravitational wave antenna: thermal noise, quantum radiation pressure noise and Newtonian noise. Gravitational wave detection is a new way in which to observe our universe. Although detectors such as advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) should detect gravitational waves, further sensitivity improvement, particularly at low ....Instrumentation for the era of gravitational wave science. This project aims to study noise sources that limit the low-frequency performance of gravitational wave antenna: thermal noise, quantum radiation pressure noise and Newtonian noise. Gravitational wave detection is a new way in which to observe our universe. Although detectors such as advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) should detect gravitational waves, further sensitivity improvement, particularly at low frequencies, will be needed to provide event rates necessary for astronomy. Expected project outcomes will support the development of the first free mass interferometer to operate at 120K using silicon optics, a vital facility for the world community. Pushing the boundaries of measurement may also drive innovation in optical sensing with potential applications in defence, security and exploration.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100002
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,000,000.00
Summary
Australian Partnership in Advanced LIGO+: continuation. The aim of this project is, in collaboration with the USA and UK, to complete the installation and commissioning of the Advanced LIGO+ facilities in the USA in order to bring them to design sensitivity. These facilities expect to increase the event rate of gravitational wave signals by a factor of 125. This should lead to daily detections and the observation of new sources of gravitational waves. Given that only 5% of the universe is detect ....Australian Partnership in Advanced LIGO+: continuation. The aim of this project is, in collaboration with the USA and UK, to complete the installation and commissioning of the Advanced LIGO+ facilities in the USA in order to bring them to design sensitivity. These facilities expect to increase the event rate of gravitational wave signals by a factor of 125. This should lead to daily detections and the observation of new sources of gravitational waves. Given that only 5% of the universe is detectable by telescopes, the impact of gravitational wave detections on our understanding of the universe is inestimable. Australian partnership intends to enable our physicists and astronomers to be at the vanguard of this brand new field and inspire a new generation to study the physical sciences.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100550
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,127.00
Summary
Superior performance optical coatings for next-generation interferometry. This project aims to investigate fundamental noise in optical coatings, a limiting factor for state-of-the-art astronomical observatories, global timing standards, and photonics applications. Gravitational wave detectors, marvels of precision engineering that have produced ground-breaking discoveries in fundamental science, are particularly afflicted by coating noise. The proposed experiment plans to operate at cryogenic t ....Superior performance optical coatings for next-generation interferometry. This project aims to investigate fundamental noise in optical coatings, a limiting factor for state-of-the-art astronomical observatories, global timing standards, and photonics applications. Gravitational wave detectors, marvels of precision engineering that have produced ground-breaking discoveries in fundamental science, are particularly afflicted by coating noise. The proposed experiment plans to operate at cryogenic temperatures with unprecedented sensitivity to conduct feasibility studies of deposition methods, coating materials, and layer structures. The goal is to deploy innovative methods to develop Australian-made optical coatings with superior performance and merit for the most demanding scientific and industrial applications.Read moreRead less
Microengineering of nonlinear optical media with ultrafast light. This project aims to demonstrate a new technique to modify nonlinear optical response of ferroelectrics and nonlinear semiconductors on the microscale. This all-optical technique employs the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with matter to alter its nonlinear properties and is reinforced with our own method of Cherenkov frequency generation for in situ monitoring of the nonlinearity engineering process. The technique offers a ....Microengineering of nonlinear optical media with ultrafast light. This project aims to demonstrate a new technique to modify nonlinear optical response of ferroelectrics and nonlinear semiconductors on the microscale. This all-optical technique employs the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with matter to alter its nonlinear properties and is reinforced with our own method of Cherenkov frequency generation for in situ monitoring of the nonlinearity engineering process. The technique offers a versatile approach to fabricate nonlinear photonic structures for the application in novel light sources, optical signal processing and pulse compression. Innovative ideas emanating from the project have great potential for commercialisation and will enhance Australia's reputation in the field of nonlinear photonics.Read moreRead less
Managing light in nonlinear photonic structures. In this project we investigate the propagation of light in nonlinear optical crystals, that is media with engineered nonlinear optical properties. Innovative ideas emanating from this project may find practical application in communication technologies and will strengthen the reputation of Australia in the field of nonlinear photonics.