Centres of Research Excellence Fund

2006 Expressions of Interest

The Jack Dodd and Dan Walls Centre for Photonics and Ultra-Cold Atoms

Director:  Professor Crispin Gardiner
Host:        University of Otago

Partners:   The University of Auckland
                 University of Canterbury
                 Massey University
                 Photonic Innovations
                 Southern Photonics    

Abstract:

The “Dodd-Walls Centre”

The understanding of the physical world around us was revolutionised by the development of Quan-tum Physics in the 1920s—as opposed to vague descriptions of general properties of matter, we now have a very precise understanding of exactly how atoms and light work together to produce both today’s physical materials and devices, and the wider physical universe. Indeed, technology today is firmly based on Quantum Physics, and New Zealand must invest in this field in order to compete internationally in a 21st century which will certainly develop new technologies of this kind.
New Zealand has a world-class capability in that part of Quantum Science based on the applications of advanced laser systems, and in other fields of research founded on the ability to manipulate light and matter at the quantum level using sophisticated laser techniques. The Dodd-Walls Centre will expand this capability in Quantum Science, and develop that kind of world class technical capacity which will be central to the success of New Zealand’s future economy.
Research will cover the following themes which range from fundamental research to technological applications:
Ultra-Cold Atoms: Atoms trapped using laser light at temperatures of billionths of a degree above absolute zero, where phenomena such as Bose-Einstein condensation occur.
Quantum Optics: Exotic quantum properties of atoms interacting with laser light.
Quantum Information: Application of Quantum Optics and Ultra-Cold Atoms to quantum com-puting and quantum cryptography, which are in principle enormously more powerful than conven-tional techniques.
Photonics: Applications of laser light, advanced optical fibres and resonators to communications, gas sensing, and other technologies.
Biophotonics: Use of ultrashort optical pulses and advanced optical resonators to investigate bio-logical systems.
Precision Ring-Laser Sensing: The development and application of state-of-the-art ring lasers to measurement of nonlinear optical phenomena, geophysical sensing and earthquake engineering.