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DSTO Centre of Expertise in Photonics to Boost Defence Research
Canberra, Australia (SPX) Jun 01, 2006 Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald, has announced the formation of an Australian Centre of Expertise in Photonics, a joint venture between the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the University of Adelaide. The Centre, based in Adelaide, will boost defence research into photonics technologies, which is the study and use of light, ranging from the visible to the mid infra-red spectrum. "Photonics is fundamental to many modern defence capabilities including communications, radar signal processing, electronic warfare systems and sensing," Senator Macdonald said. DSTO's Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Information), Mr Neil Bryans, said photonic technologies and their applications were of significant relevance to DSTO research programs and had potential for commercial applications. "The new Centre of Expertise in Photonics is a strategic initiative to build capability in photonics in Australia's defence and commercial industry sectors," Mr Bryans said. "It's also a mechanism to attract students to the study of photonics and thereby develop local expertise to supplement the work of DSTO scientists." In the future, lasers will provide inter-satellite communications while ground-based networks will depend on specialist optical fibre to provide the high data rates required for military systems. Electro-optic sensing will also enhance remote detection of various targets including their speed and range while micro-structured optical fibre has potential in high sensitivity detection of biological agents. DSTO funding for the Centre includes $400,000 for initial infrastructure and ongoing funding of $400,000 per year to support the University's Chair in Photonics, held by Professor Tanya Monro, and two post doctoral research fellows. The Centre will be located in the Physics Building at the North Terrace campus of the University of Adelaide. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Defence Science and Technology Organisation University of Adelaide The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com
Quintessence Photonics Wins US DoD Subcontract
Sylmar CA (SPX) Jun 01, 2006Quintessence Photonics has announced that it has received a subcontract for the development of high power, high brightness semiconductor lasers as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) program for Architecture for Diode High Energy Laser Systems (ADHELS). QPCI's portion of the DARPA award is for $3.1M including all phases. |
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