Neuton’s paper on algorithm-designed plasmonic apertures for optical nanotweezers has been published in Advanced Optical Materials. The apertures were fabricated using a helium ion microscope and were characterised by cathodoluminescence and optical trapping experiments. It was shown that at every laser intensity, an algorithm-designed structure can outperform a conventional plasmonic aperture.
Link to paper:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adom.202100758
TMOS Chief Investigator Ann Roberts has been awarded the Alan Walsh Medal for 2020 by the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP).
Professor Roberts, a member of the University of Melbourne’s School of Physics, received the award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the fields of plasmonics, nanophotonics, and optics.
Exciton Science Associate acknowledgment: https://excitonscience.com/news/ann-roberts-awarded-alan-walsh-medal
Members of the group led by Lukas Wesemann have demonstrated imaging of unstained cells using a nanophotonic device that has been published in Light: Science and Applications. Link to article here.
Congratulations to Lukas Wesemann who was awarded his PhD on 5 March. His citation states that he investigated all-optical image processing with nanostructures. He demonstrated both thin-film and patterned surfaces that can detect the edges of features in an image or permit visualisation of transparent objects. His study will enable the development of ultracompact and energy-efficient optical systems for applications, including in biotechnology and remote sensing. Dr Wesemann is continuing research into meta-optical devices and systems.
Ken Crozier and Ann Roberts have two research fellow positions available for suitably qualified applicants. The positions will be part of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems and the roles will involve working on the experimental realisation of new nano-optical devices and their incorporation into optical systems. Applications close on 16 March. More information including position descriptions and a link to the application form here.
Congratulations to MSc student Shaban who was recently awarded a Lift Off Scholarship by the Greater Shepparton Foundation. Shaban was interviewed by WIN News on Tuesday 23 February. Link to news item on Facebook here.
Information regarding MSc and PhD projects in X-ray, Synchrotron & Atomic Physics, Quantum Electrodynamics& X-ray Laboratories can be found here here and a video discussing work in the lab here (123 MB).
The ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems is now seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates for MSc and PhD positions. If you are interested in joining the Melbourne node as either a PhD or MSc student contact Professor Ken Crozier or Professor Ann Roberts. Note that PhD applications must be received by 31 October for Australian domestic students to have the best chance of attracting a scholarship.
Potential project details here.
Alex Wood and Rob Scholten have co-authored a new paper in Physical Review Letters, highlighted in Physics Focus, that is generating a lot of excitement. Their experiments demonstrate the fundamental connections between spin, physical rotation, and quantum phase, and are applicable in schemes where the rotational degree of freedom of a quantum system is not fixed, such as spin-based rotation sensors and trapped nanoparticles containing spins.
Ann Roberts and Devi Stuart-Fox from Biosciences are featured in the University online magazine Pursuit. Read about structural colour and beetles here!
