16-May-2008

Pulsed Mid IR source
This test facility will enable Australian researchers to validate optical
components and technologies at wavelengths from 2.5 to 20 microns, that
are crucial for a wide range of applications including biophotonics,
sensing, imaging, defense, and astro-photonics. Technologies related to
the Mid IR are expected to have a significant impact on quality of life
and global economy. It will enable Australian researchers to achieve a
major impact in many areas of Mid IR fundamental and applied science as
well as industry sectors such as sensing, biophotonics, defence, health,
bio-security and imaging.

Optofluidics Facility
Emerging 'lab on a chip' technology promises to provide low-cost, mass produced platforms for monitoring and processing of environmental and biological samples (eg. water quality and early cancer detection). These essentially fluidic platforms will require integrated photonic components to provide the vast array of optical interrogation options that are used in all modern laboratories. The proposed facility will enable Australian researchers to effectively integrate nano-photonic structures with engineered micro-fluidics into a single optofluidic chip. This will bring researchers in photonics and microfluidics together and will provide platforms supporting support biomedical and environmental and even fundamental physics projects.