Interferometry beyond the Standard Quantum Limit. This research aims to realise measurements below the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) using advanced quantum optic and opto-mechanical techniques. This is of fundamental interest as the SQL is yet to be observed for a macroscopic object. It is also of particular significance to second generation gravitational wave detectors which are expected to be limited by the SQL. This project will develop an opto-mechanical sensor capable of achieving SQL sensit ....Interferometry beyond the Standard Quantum Limit. This research aims to realise measurements below the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) using advanced quantum optic and opto-mechanical techniques. This is of fundamental interest as the SQL is yet to be observed for a macroscopic object. It is also of particular significance to second generation gravitational wave detectors which are expected to be limited by the SQL. This project will develop an opto-mechanical sensor capable of achieving SQL sensitivity as well as develop and test techniques to surpass the SQL. These techniques will be directly applicable to long base-line gravitational wave detectors.Read moreRead less
Optical technology for quantum science. This project aims to develop and commercialise optical cavity and frequency stabilisation technology to generate laser light at new and precise wavelengths. Australia plays a leading role internationally in quantum science, a burgeoning area of research where fundamental quantum mechanical principles underpin exciting new technological applications, such as ion-based quantum computing, ultracold atom sensing for geo-exploration and defence, and nanoscale i ....Optical technology for quantum science. This project aims to develop and commercialise optical cavity and frequency stabilisation technology to generate laser light at new and precise wavelengths. Australia plays a leading role internationally in quantum science, a burgeoning area of research where fundamental quantum mechanical principles underpin exciting new technological applications, such as ion-based quantum computing, ultracold atom sensing for geo-exploration and defence, and nanoscale imaging inside living human cells. This project aims to continue and develop this role.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL150100019
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,041,282.00
Summary
Precision laser levitation for quantum metrology and gravitational sensing. Precision laser levitation for quantum metrology and gravitational sensing: This fellowship project aims to levitate macroscopic objects using only laser beams, to provide a new tool to test physics theories. Strong laser beams can exert sufficient force to counteract gravity and make an object levitate. In contrast to other forms of levitation, laser levitation is scatter-free and can preserve system coherence. It has s ....Precision laser levitation for quantum metrology and gravitational sensing. Precision laser levitation for quantum metrology and gravitational sensing: This fellowship project aims to levitate macroscopic objects using only laser beams, to provide a new tool to test physics theories. Strong laser beams can exert sufficient force to counteract gravity and make an object levitate. In contrast to other forms of levitation, laser levitation is scatter-free and can preserve system coherence. It has superior optical and mechanical quality factors and complete information of the system dynamics is retained. This allows laser levitation to be turned into a highly controllable and ultra-sensitive device capable of detecting minute environmental changes. This research aims to probe the relationship between quantum and gravitational physics and develop laser levitation into a precision instrument for the sensing of gravity. Laser levitation has the potential to be developed into technology for mineral exploration and environmental sensing.Read moreRead less
Coherent Laser Levitation for Precision Sensing and Enabling Science. When light collides with matter, it may exert a force called radiation pressure. This project aims to use radiation pressure to levitate a small mirror. Using a tripod of laser beams, it is possible to levitate and trap the mirror in a stable position. Radiation pressure has been used before to levitate, but previous work has always involved scattering light from the levitating object. This project proposes the use of a high q ....Coherent Laser Levitation for Precision Sensing and Enabling Science. When light collides with matter, it may exert a force called radiation pressure. This project aims to use radiation pressure to levitate a small mirror. Using a tripod of laser beams, it is possible to levitate and trap the mirror in a stable position. Radiation pressure has been used before to levitate, but previous work has always involved scattering light from the levitating object. This project proposes the use of a high quality mirror, allowing the collection of the reflected light and the accurate measurement and control of the position of the mirror as it floats on the laser beams. Using the unique properties of the floating mirror, it will be possible to search for signatures of quantum gravity and develop tools for ultra-precision metrology.Read moreRead less
Building Schrodinger's cat: large-scale entanglement of trapped ions. Where does the microscopic quantum world leave off and the normal world begin? The project will expand the boundaries of the quantum realm by building the largest quantum objects ever assembled and put them to work in computing and cryptography. These quantum devices will help Australia lead the race for future information technologies.
Quantum spatial modes and their use in imaging, measurement, and communication. Quantum optics has the potential to provide highly accurate physical measurements, and to improve the speed and security of communication. The spatial modes of a light field provide a new and interesting basis for these investigations.
This fellowship proposes to generate spatially correlated quantum light beams, applying them to spatial positioning applications, such as atomic force microscopy, and to quantum ....Quantum spatial modes and their use in imaging, measurement, and communication. Quantum optics has the potential to provide highly accurate physical measurements, and to improve the speed and security of communication. The spatial modes of a light field provide a new and interesting basis for these investigations.
This fellowship proposes to generate spatially correlated quantum light beams, applying them to spatial positioning applications, such as atomic force microscopy, and to quantum communication protocols. I will experimentally develop general techniques to losslessly combine multiple quantum spatial modes, and demonstrate multi-mode quantum correlations in a light beam. I will investigate the potential of this light to cryptography, densecoding, and atomic force microscopy.
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Quantum Photonics and Imaging. Photonics is an expanding industry and its technology to date is essentially all classical, it uses light as a wave. In Quantum Photonics we want to carry out fundamental research that makes full use of the quantum properties of photons. We want to demonstrate novel and better ways to create, transfer, store and manipulate information both in space and time. This will lead to new applications such as quantum-cryptography, optical teleportation, and quantum-imagin ....Quantum Photonics and Imaging. Photonics is an expanding industry and its technology to date is essentially all classical, it uses light as a wave. In Quantum Photonics we want to carry out fundamental research that makes full use of the quantum properties of photons. We want to demonstrate novel and better ways to create, transfer, store and manipulate information both in space and time. This will lead to new applications such as quantum-cryptography, optical teleportation, and quantum-imaging, initially with a few, later with many pixel. All these are particularly suitable for our proven technology of nonclassical continuous laser beams.Read moreRead less
The New Atom Laser: Theory of Quantum Atom Optical Sources. The atom laser is a new device which produces a coherent source of ultracold atoms. A practical atom laser will be a revolutionary source for atom optics. This project will develop a comprehensive and practical quantum theory of a new generation of atom lasers which can produce a continuous beam. This will require a different and more complicated theoretical approach to that which worked for optical lasers, but the result will be a d ....The New Atom Laser: Theory of Quantum Atom Optical Sources. The atom laser is a new device which produces a coherent source of ultracold atoms. A practical atom laser will be a revolutionary source for atom optics. This project will develop a comprehensive and practical quantum theory of a new generation of atom lasers which can produce a continuous beam. This will require a different and more complicated theoretical approach to that which worked for optical lasers, but the result will be a device with a spectral flux which is orders of magnitude better than the current state of the art.Read moreRead less
Storage of non-classical light in a solid. A new scheme for storing and recalling coherent light pulses based on 'slow light' has been demonstrated. The aim of this project is to show how this can best be achieved in a solid to enable practical applications. A range of materials will be investigated. The novel feature of the storage is the maintenace of the coherence information and a noise analysis will be made to determine whether it is experimentally possible to store non-classical light.
Observing Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entanglement with ultracold atomic gases. As a fundamental test of quantum mechanics, the project will demonstrate for the first time the famous Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox in the regime of a macroscopic number of entangled massive particles. As well as enabling the design of new gravitational sensors, the outcomes will give insights into the unification of quantum theory with gravity.