COMPS News & Activities
New RF Magnetron Sputtering Facility at COMPS, Perth, Western Australia
COMPS has established a RF Magnetron Sputtering Facility dedicated to the practical implementation of the advanced photonic nano-device concepts. The examples of such nano-devices include arrayed high-speed light intensity modulators, waveguide-integrated isolators and micro-resonators, high-speed photonic switches and structures for the magneto-optic visualisation and sensing of magnetic fields, based on the application-specific optimisation of complex magnetic photonic crystal structures.
COMPS has an extensive range of nanofabrication process-related and photonic characterisation equipment suitable for the post-fabrication testing of advanced photonic devices, as well as an established network of academic and industrial research cooperation links with leading nanotechnology institutions in South Korea, Russia, Sweden, China and the USA. The ECU-based sputtering facility is suitable for the synthesis of new and advanced photonic materials, including novel magneto-optic material compositions.
COMPS researchers at the RF Magnetron Sputtering Facility, ECU, Perth
New Collaboration with Glamorgan University in Wales
The Centre of Excellence for Microphotonic Systems at ECU has recently established collaboration with the the Mobile Computing, Communications and Networking Research Group (MoCoNet Research Group) of the School of Computing at Glamorgan University after a received visit by the research group from Professor Alameh in January 2005. This collaboration was consolidated by the commencement of a joint research project on broadband microphotonic systems, specifically a novel broadband smart antenna.
Media Release: Multi-million dollar photonics research contract
PanoramaFLAT, an international company with operations in the US and Western Australia, has awarded Edith Cowan University (ECU) a multi-million dollar research contract.
The four-year agreement will see the University’s newly formed Centre of Excellence for MicroPhotonic Systems carry out commercial research into microphotonics, a new enabling technology where information is transported as ultra high-speed light photons.
Already used in consumer goods such as televisions, CDs and computers, photonics technology has the potential to improve other technologies through integration with leading-edge silicon chips.
ECU Vice-Chancellor Professor Millicent Poole said the agreement with PanoramaFLAT would enable the University to be at the forefront of the global photonics market.
PanoramaFLAT Managing Director Sutherland Ellwood said the company chose ECU to lead this research effort because of their world-class expertise in design and development of breakthrough opto-VLSI technologies.
“Professors Alameh and Osseiran have the experience and international stature to provide leadership in what will be an international commercialisation research and development effort,” Mr Ellwood said.
Based at the Joondalup Campus, the Centre for MicroPhotonic Systems was set up at the University in June this year and received $1.9 million in State Government funding.
The Centre has five international partner universities - from Israel, the UK, Germany, France and Switzerland.
Premier's Visit
Director of COMPS, Associate Professor Kamal Alameh, describing ECU's MicroPhotonics research to the WA Premier Dr Geoff Gallop and the WA Chief Scientist Dr Bruce Hobbs
COMPS Launch
From left to right: Dr Bruce Hobbs, Associate Professor Kamal Alameh and ECU Vice-Chancellor Professor Millicent Poole
An international centre dedicated to researching a new enabling technology, microphotonics, was launched on Thursday 17 June at Edith Cowan University.
Microphotonics, a frontier technology where information is transported as ultra high-speed light photons, is set to marry with microchip technology.
With added investment of $1.9 million from State Government's Centres of Excellence in Science and Innovation program, the Western Australian Centre of Excellence for Microphotonic Systems was launched at ECU's Joondalup Campus by WA's Chief Scientist Dr Bruce Hobbs.
Five international universities will come together at the Centre to design, fabricate and test developments in the global photonics market, projected to reach an estimated US$700 billion in 2008.
Dr Hobbs said establishing such a centre in Perth would support a dynamic and vibrant industry environment in WA. The Centre is expected to also enhance synergy and collaboration with existing microelectronics and microsystem capabilities already established in WA.
"Internationally recognised research teams will come together in Perth to share highly-specialised technical know-how and undertake the research needed to develop this leading-edge technology," Dr Hobbs said.
ECU's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Millicent Poole, said the science of photonics already exists in home lighting, in radio and clock displays, televisions, CDs, computers and many other appliances.
"But photonics has the potential to improve information systems and image-processing technologies vastly when integrated with leading-edge silicon chips," she said.
"Speed, immunity to interference, increased bandwidth, parallel information processing abilities and enhanced data-storage capacity are some of the advantages of working with ultra-high speed light," she said.
Since 2000 ECU's Joondalup Campus has housed the National Networked Tele-Test Facility, a research hub to facilitate the Australian manufacture of computer chips.
Applications for microphotonics include high-speed communication, optical computing, precision apparatus such as laser machining, laser medical treatment and diagnosis, new source of energy, chemistry, automobiles and security technology.
Dr Kamal Alameh, Director of the new Centre said "From the faculty perspective, the WA Centre of Excellence for MicroPhotonic Systems is aimed at the interface between the various schools through several collaborations, which provide a potential for CHS students as well as staff to be involved in MicroPhotonics research to develop new solutions in computing, health and sciences."
