Our research

The Optical Sciences Centre’s research encompasses both optical and quantum sciences as well as related areas in bio-medical science and technology, nanotechnology, integrated nanophotonics, microwave photonics, optical telecommunications, neural networks, nonlinear optics, renewable energy, materials science, ultrafast laser micro-machining, plasmonics, 2D materials, astro-photonics and instrumentation, and many other areas. 

Our researchers are also currently:  

• investigating novel forms of superfluidity created in ultracold atomic gases and how these may be exploited in next generation electronic materials and sensors  
• investigating dynamics in materials at the femtosecond timescale using ultrafast laser pulses 
• analysing the capabilities of topological quantum information processing 
• exploring new avenues for producing time-crystals — exotic driven systems that spontaneously display time periodic behaviour.
   

In addition to the individual research programs of our academic staff, several larger strategic programs form a core part of our centre: 

• Our involvement in the ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET) is focused on developing 2D materials for use in computing technologies with greatly reduced power consumption. 
• The Australian Quantum Gas Microscope is a national user facility for cold-atom research. 
• The Ultrafast Micro-Spectroscopy Facility is a national facility for materials characterisation. 
• The Nanofabrication Facility is a world-class facility with electron beam lithography and other tools for nanophotonics research. 
• The Solar Facility is a core capability underpinned by a unique cluster PECVD thin film growth tool along with chemical labs and other capabilities.   
• The 3D Laser Nano- and Micro-printing Facility is capable of fabricating deep subwavelength 3D structures on nanometer length scales. 
• The ARC Training Centre in Surface Engineering for Advanced Materials (SEAM) provides nano-textured surfaces for optical, sensor and bio-biomedical applications. 
• A quantum photonic computing and communications initiative that will operate in the telecom wavelength range.