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Professor David McClelland, Jong Chow, Dr Mal Gray and Dr Ian Littler are making waves in sensing techniques thanks to major funding for an ARC Linkage Project.
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A project that could revolutionise natural resource exploration has attracted $1 million in ARC Linkage Projects funding – more than a quarter of the Linkage funds allotted to ANU this month.
This amount will be matched by contributions from Sydney-based industry partner Benthic Geotech.
The money will go to researchers from the Centre for Gravitational Physics who have developed new acoustic sensing technology using fibre optics that is 100 times more sensitive than current sensing techniques.
Dr Mal Gray, Mr Jong Chow and Professor David McClelland, together with Dr Ian Littler from the University of Sydney, developed the groundbreaking technique by applying fundamental research on the measurement and detection of extremely faint gravitational wave signals from outer space to fibre optic sensing.
“This patented technology has tremendous potential for marine mineral exploration, monitoring of sea and gas reserves, as well as security and submarine surveillance,” project leader Dr Gray said.
The team bettered the world record in fibre strain sensitivity by a factor of more than 100 and has achieved this at the end of a length of optical fibre five kilometres long.
The fibre optic sensor they have developed is able to detect acoustic waves with acute sensitivity – roughly equivalent to detecting changes on the order of size of a human hair in the distance between the earth and the moon (385,000 kilometres).
In their submission to the ARC, the team said the project could have immense benefits for the natural resources sector.
“We are thrilled with the remarkable sensitivity of the device. This achievement underscores the value of ongoing fundamental research and the opportunities it presents for real-world applications,” Professor McClelland said.
To see all succesful ANU applications for ARC Linkage grants, go to the ARC website.
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