AProf. Judith Dawes

1

• A/Prof. Judith Dawes
• Judith_at_physics.mq.edu.au, room E7A 205
• MQ Photonics Research Centre,
• Department of Physics and Engineering
• Research activities in ? Femtosecond Laser
  Dentistry ? Plasmonics
  ? Crystalline Waveguides ? Opals
  ? Microwave Laser Sources

2
RESEARCH Femtosecond Laser Dentistry
? Pain-free efficient and precise laser ablation
of dental decay using a femtosecond laser ?
Projects investigating acid resistance of laser
treated teeth and dental handpiece development
Ablated craters in teeth, different power and
pulses
Femtosecond-pulsed laser sources cause minimal
damage to surrounding tooth material with
potential for highly precise treatment of dental
caries.
A portion of a tooth ablated by the femtosecond
laser. Note the sharp edge and minimal surface
damage.
3
RESEARCH Plasmonics
4
RESEARCH Crystalline Waveguides
? Crystals grown in a furnace from molten
mixtures, creating a thin layer on the surface
of another crystal substrate. ? These can guide
light and provide opportunities for optical
signal processing
A/Prof Judith Dawes
5
RESEARCH Opals
? Opals are examples of 3D photonic crystals
which control the propagation of light in
every direction ? We are combining opals with
optical fibres and with waveguides to create
new types of photonic devices to control and
guide light
Opal with waveguide
Two opals
Inverse Opal
6
RESEARCH Microwave Laser Sources
? Use a crystalline laser to produce microwave
and terahertz signals ? Two optical frequencies
are generated as optical carrier waves ? Tunable
microwave or terahertz (150 GHz) obtained by
mixing optical signals ? Interaction of
optical frequencies in the laser material
controls efficiency