Strong photon-photon interactions are a key requirement for numerous quantum communication and computation protocols. Generation of photon-photon interactions mediated by atomic vapours in hollow waveguides has shown great promise, with their efficiencies enhanced by the tight transverse confinement and extended interaction length. We demonstrate, both experimentally and theoretically, the strength of such interactions inside a series of hollow-core photonic crystal fibres and show they only scale with the optical mode diameter, not mode area as might be initially expected, a result of atomic motion within the waveguides. This insight will allow waveguides to be designed to target specific photon-photon interaction strengths.
Engineering Photon-Photon Interactions within Rubidium-Filled Waveguides
C. Perrella, P. S. Light, S. Afshar Vahid, F. Benabid, and A. N. Luiten
Phys. Rev. Applied 9, 044001
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevApplied.9.044001
Inspiring transdisciplinary photonics researchers, led by Dr Jiawen Li, have invented a world-first tiny fibre-optic probe that can simultaneously measure temperature and see deep inside the body. Combining optical imaging and sensing technologies into a single-fibre-based probe will 1) enable researchers to accurately position sensors under real-time co-localized image guidance and 2) achieve simultaneous imaging and sensing in vivo, which are not accessible using present approaches. Within a week, this paper has reached Altmetric score 89 and ranked No.1 out of all outputs of similar age from Optics Letters.
Miniaturized single-fiber-based needle probe for combined imaging and sensing in deep tissue
Jiawen Li, Erik Schartner, Stefan Musolino, Bryden C. Quirk, Rodney W. Kirk, Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem, and Robert A. McLaughlin
Opt. Lett. 43, 1682-1685 (2018)
DOI: 10.1364/OL.43.001682
To elaborate on the IPAS’s vision and research program, Dr Ben Sparkes, who is working on quantum atom-light interactions at IPAS, was invited for an interview with Radio Adelaide’s Subatomic program with Rohan Neagle. Dr Sparkes discussed the quantum optics research taking place at IPAS and its potential to increase the distance of absolutely-secure quantum communications using our novel hollow-core optical fibres.
For the interview podcast, please click here.
Congratulations Prof Andre Luiten for contributing to outstanding research in radio-astronomy. A large team demonstrated for the first time that a clock signal could be sent along 300km of optical fibre and be recovered at the end of the line with very little noise. This enabled a special type of radio-astronomy called Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry (VLBI).
This publication received coverage from several major media outlets such as Business Wire, Science Daily and Photonics Online, potentially reaching over 15 million readers.
Business Wire: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180201005795/en/New-Telecomm
Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180201104549.htm
Photonics Online: https://www.photonicsonline.com/doc/new-use-for-telecommunications-networkshelping-scientists-peer-into-deep-space-0001
Prof Andre Luiten explained that IPAS’s vision is about exploiting the power of light, to make the world healthier, wealthier and safer. He particularly focused on the critical need for pathways to translate research outcomes from the lab into the real-world.
The segment highlighted two specific projects from the Precision Measurement Group:
The Quantum Mechanics project led by Dr Ben Sparkes, looking at ways to use photonics, or the technology that allows the generation and control of light, to protect sensitive data: a critical feature in applications such as defence and banking.
The Sapphire Clock team, led by Prof Andre Luiten and A/Prof Martin O’Connor, is building a clock so accurate that it only loses a second once every 40 million years. This has a very important application in supporting Australia’s defence by allowing a performance increase of the Jindalee Over the Horizon Radar.
Watch the news segment here and read full article here.
Fungal infections are a serious risk-factor faced by hospital patients who have compromised immune-systems, such as those undergoing organ or bone-marrow transplants, chemotherapy, or those with HIV/AIDS. Fungi rely on specific enzymes to build and maintain a strong and well-functioning cell membrane. We have taken an atomic-resolution snapshot of one such enzyme in action, such that we can now see the full process by which it catalyses the first step in the synthesis of an essential cell-membrane component. This information is invaluable for understanding how fungi survive and grow, and useful for considering when designing new antifungal medications.
Structure of Aspergillus fumigatus Cytosolic Thiolase: Trapped Tetrahedral Reaction Intermediates and Activation by Monovalent Cations.
Andrew C. Marshall, Charles S. Bond‡, and John B. Bruning
ACS Catal., 2018, 8 (3), pp 1973–1989
DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.7b02873
Congratulations Ecojet for successfully receiving funding for developing a world-leading micro gas turbine to provide solution for affordable and uninterrupted on-site power supply.
IPAS has been collaborating with EcoJet in the development of their novel turbine technology.
For full press, please click here.
Congratulations Prof Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem on being selected to be included in this month’s addition of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)’s Focus magazine.
This edition of ATSE Focus contains a selection of profiles of recipients of the first round of Global Connections Fund Priming Grants, which demonstrate the diversity of projects and partnerships being supported by the program.
Prof Ebendorff-Heidepriem was successfully awarded a 2017 Global Connections Fund – Bridging Grant , in collaboration with international partner IRflex, with the project entitled “Extruded Hollow-Core Fibre for High-Power Mid-IR Laser”.
For the online article, please click here.
Congratulation Prof Andre Luiten on being elected to the Commission on Laser Physics and Photonics for the term 2018 -2020 at the 29th General Assembly of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics!
The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) was established in 1922 in Brussels with 13 Member countries and the first General Assembly was held in 1923 in Paris. The Union is governed by its General Assembly which meets every three years to stimulate and promote international cooperation in physics.
Congratulations to Prof Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem for being elected as a Fellow Member of The Optical Society (OSA) at the Society’s September 2017 Board of Directors meeting.
Founded in 1916, OSA is the leading professional association in optics and photonics, home to accomplished science, engineering, and business leaders from all over the world. Through world-renowned publications, meetings, and membership programs, OSA provides quality information and inspiring interactions that power achievements in the science of light.
Prof Ebendorff-Heidepriem is being honored specially for ground breaking science contributions to the field of optical glasses and fibers.
For more information about the this honor, please click here. The list of Fellows is currently available online.
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