IPOS (Institute of Photonics and Optical Science) is a research institute at the University of Sydney with approximately 100 members from various schools including Physics, Electrical Engineering, and Chemistry. It has 55 researchers and 35 research students working on diverse areas of photonics including quantum photonics, communications, astrophotonics, biomedical photonics, and more. Key capabilities include microstructured polymer optical fiber sensing, optofluidics which combines microfluidics and microphotonics, and silk photonics which uses biocompatible silk films for optical devices. Research is supported by facilities like the Australian Institute of Nanoscience building with a clean room and dedicated photonics labs.

1. IPOS - Institute of Photonics and
Optical Science
Prof. Ben Eggleton, ARC Laureate
Director, Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS)
Fellow
Director, CUDOS ARC Centre of Excellence
School of Physics
http://sydney.edu.au/ipos/

2. Photonics: Critical enabling science
› Photonics is the science and technology of generating, controlling and
detecting photons (began with the invention of the laser 53 years ago)

3. Introduction to IPOS
IPOS Institute of Photonics and Optical Science
“To provide Australia with the innovation, scientists and
engineers to maintain and enhance a position of worldleadership in photonics, in academia and industry.”
› ~100 Members from the
- School of Physics, incl.
- CUDOS – Sydney, Astrophotonics, Quantum
- Electrical Engineering
- Fibre-optics and photonics laboratory
- School of Chemistry
- Interdisciplinary Photonics Laboratories
- Molecular Spectroscopy & Photonics
- School of Mathematics and Statistics
› 55 Researchers
› 35 Research Students
FPL
Fibre-optics & Photonics
Laboratory

4. Research
IPOS Institute of Photonics and Optical Science
› Diverse research areas
Ultrafast photonics
Quantum photonics
Communications
Astrophotonics
Optical fibre technology
Nonlinear optics
High power & mid-IR lasers
Integrated and nanophotonics
Microfluidics
Biomedical photonics
Renewable energy
Defence photonics
Molecular spectroscopy
Optical sensing
Microwave and Terahertz

5. Fibre Biomedical Photonics
› Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibre
- Holes provide guiding, and sensitivity
› Unique capability at University of Sydney
› Inexpensive to access through ANFF
› PMMA (Perspex)
- Extremely low cost – disposable sensors
- Biocompatible / non-hazardous
› “Lab in fibre”
- Ultrasensitive molecular detection
- Picolitre volumes
- Long interaction lengths
› But also
- On Body (non-invasive), and
- In Body (invasive)
sensing / interfacing opportunities…

6. Fibre Biomedical Devices
› Non-invasive Sensing
- Fibre - sensitive to temperature, bending, pressure…
- Example: Heart rate monitor, integrated with PPE ->
- Potential: Fibre combined with bandage, could
provide long term, continuous, inexpensive pressure
monitoring, including remotely.
- Also monitor heart-rate, blood pressure, or physical exertion.
› Invasive Interfacing
- Neural interface – channels for:
- Electrical: detection and stimulation
- Chemical: drug delivery
- Optical: optogenetic detection and stimulation
- Developed for neuroscience research
J. Witt et al, POF 2011 Bilbao
(Spain) Conference Proceedings –
SENSORS II

7. Optofluidics: Photonics + Microfluidics
Optical channel:
Light constrained on the
micron scale
Microfluidic channel:
Fluid constrained on the
micron scale
Microfluidics + microphotonics
Flexible optical systems at the microscopic scale
Source: http://www.optofluidicscorp.com/
• C. Monat, P. Domachuk, B. J. Eggleton, “Optlofludics”, Nature Photonics 2012
• V. Oncescu, et al, “Smartphone based health accessory for colorimetric detection of biomarkers in sweat
and saliva,” Lab on a Chip 13, 3232 (2013)
• A. Casas-Bedoya, et al, “Chip scale humidity sensing based on a microfluidic infiltrated photonic
crystal,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 103, 181109 (2013);
• H. Schmidt et al “Photonic integration of nonsolid media using optofluidics. Nat. Phot, 5, 598 (2011).
Erickson/Cornell

8. Silk photonics
Biocompatibility
Biologically favourable carrier that allows
biodopants to maintain their function while held
within its crystalline matrix with remarkable
robustness
•
•
•
•
•
S. Kim, et al “Silk inverse opals,” Nat. Phot. 6, (2012).
P. Domachuk, et al. “Bioactive ‘self-sensing’ optical systems.,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 253702 (2009).
F. G. Omenetto, “Bioactive silk protein biomaterial systems for optical devices,” Biomacromolecules 9, 1214 (2008).
S.T. Parker, P. Domachuk, et al. “Biocompatible silk printed optical waveguides,” Adv. Mater. 21, 2411–2415 (2009).
H Perry, F.G, Gopinath, ”Nano- and micropatterning of optically transparent, mechanically robust, biocompatible silk
fibroin films,”. Adv. Mater. 20, 3070–3072 (2008).

9. Photonics at the University of Sydney
Australian
Institute of
Nanoscience (AIN)
-10,500 m2 building
-600 m2 clean room (nanolithography)
-Photonics a key driver (1 floor of labs)
-Interdisciplinary focus

10. Photonics at the University of Sydney
Australian
Institute of
Nanoscience (AIN)
-10,500 m2 building
-600 m2 clean room (nanolithography)
-Photonics a key driver (1 floor of labs)
-Interdisciplinary focus