The next generation of photonics

A group of Australia's top researchers have embarked on an ambitious project to make light do things that were previously impossible.

Their aim is to develop the next generation of optical communications systems, offering high speed access for all Australians to telemedicine and remote education as well as new jobs in high tech manufacturing industry. In reality, they are participating in the next optics revolution.

The researchers, from five Universities and CSIRO have joined forces to collaborate in a research centre called CUDOS that promises to develop the 'photonic chip'.

But their research represents much more than this, according to Dr Robin Batterham, Australia's Chief Scientist. "The work of CUDOS will be world-leading science in one of the most exciting areas of modern optics. The team which has come together for this ambitious and exciting program represent the 'best of the best' in this field anywhere in the world."

CUDOS, which is an acronym for the Centre for Ultra-high bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems, is being established under the Federal Government's Centre of Excellence program. The Centre boasts three Federation Fellows including Professor Ben Eggleton, who has returned from senior R&D positions with major optical communications companies in the USA to lead the Centre.

"CUDOS is one of the really bright things happening in the world of optical communications. This is a major opportunity for Australia, and we plan to do everything we can to make sure that CUDOS will be a technology leader in this area," Prof. Eggleton says.

To develop photonic chips, researchers will be working with new optical materials that have only recently been discovered. Unprecedented optical phenomena occur in these materials and the CUDOS researchers hope to exploit these to develop practical devices that can be used for high speed yet affordable optical communications which will provide high quality and inexpensive health, education and other services to communities across Australia, especially in regional areas.

The CUDOS team is spread across three states. There are five collaborating Universities: the University of Sydney, ANU, Macquarie University, UTS and Swinburne University of Technology. CSIRO's Division of Telecommunications and Industrial Physics will also participate and the NSW State Government is providing financial support.

For more information, please visit http://www.cudos.org.au/

Item provided courtesy of The University of Sydney