Advanced Optoelectronic Sensing
FUTURE DEFENCE AND SECURITY
Merging light and nanotechnology to advance sensing and surveillance
Research Group
Surveillance and detection of threats can save lives . Early detection of threats can lead to a rapid and efficient response . The combined expertise of UNSW and the University of Western Australia ( UWA ) brings extensive experience on the development of sensors , such as :
• Photodetectors that convert light into electrical signals . Some of the devices are at TRL5 and work from the ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths .
• Gas and Rydberg sensors to detect toxic gases and avoid adversarial communications that can lead to rapid response to threats . The sensors combine materials , physical phenomena ( e . g ., exceptional points ) and quantum sensing ( e . g ., Rydberg atoms ) ( TRL3 ).
• Night vision sensors that use nanotechnology ( metasurfaces ) to produce compact night vision devices ( TRL3 ).
The research group combines different materials and techniques to produce high performance sensors and optoelectronic devices for surveillance , signature detection , navigation and threat detection .
Key capabilities
> Material growth by molecular beam epitaxy > Extensive experience in the fabrication of opto-electronic devices > Optical ( ultraviolet to mid-infrared ) and electrical characterisation of devices
Differentiators
> UWA is one of only two universities in the world working on HgCdTe infrared detector technology .
> Four laser labs covering the ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths .
> Access to nano-fabrication facilities and a wide range of simulation tools : quantum expresso , Lumerical FDTD software , COMSOL Multiphysics , Gaussian software package and other specialised software .
> Work with specialised materials , such as transition metal carbides and borides , which can work at high temperatures and under harsh conditions .
> Fabricate organic and hybrid organic / semiconductor flexible devices
Key customers
> Defence and civilian companies > Government agencies > Universities
Key partnerships
> UNSW , UWA , UTS , ANU and other Australian universities
> MIT ( USA ), Johns Hopkins University ( USA ), Riken ( Japan ), Ecole Centrale de Lyon ( France ), The University of Glasgow ( UK ), Unicamp ( Brazil )
> IEE ( Luxembourg ), Leidos , Seeing Machines
( Canberra ) > UXOTrackS ( Canberra )
Quality accreditations and awards
> SII23.01.02 Heterogeneous Robot Teaming and Sensor Enhancements for Active CBRN Threat Modelling
unsw . to / haroldo-hattori
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