We aim to build instruments with world-class precision and performance that we can use to make measurements of high value and interest in both fundamental physics and more practical applications.

The instruments are based around the concepts of frequency and phase measurement and control which give rise to superb performance.

Many modern developments in today's society are based on high-quality clocks and oscillators: the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite system, radar, optical fibre communications, even mobile phones.

The FSM Group's goal is to develop new frequency standards with two endpoints in mind: to improve systems that are based on high-quality clocks and oscillators (such as those listed above), and to use these as precision tools to test the foundations of physics.

We have already used our oscillators to make the most sensitive test of one of the founding theories of modern physics: Einstein's Theory of Relativity. In the near future we will use our devices to test new theories of cosmology, and to search for evidence of "new physics" that goes beyond the present conception of physics.

We are dedicated to commercialising our inventions and thus hold patents in conjunction with industry. Our research programs include strong international and industrial collaborations.

For ease of administration, the FSM Group is divided into Radio Frequency, Optical and Local Oscillator divisions. Nonetheless, all members share the group's goals, and the techniques used across the entire group are ubiquitous.

1. Radio Frequency Division
2. Optical Division
3. Local Oscillator Division

Radio Frequency Division (from RF to the EHF)

This division is directed towards undertaking extremely high precision measurements, involving time, frequency phase and amplitude. Topics include:

• Testing fundamental physics with precision measurement
• Precision frequency synthesis
• Low noise frequency and phase techniques
• Measurement of electronic and magnetic properties of materials
• Novel high-Q microwave and millimetre wave resonators
• Quantum metrology under the ARC CoE, EQUS
  

Our work is being undertaken at temperatures ranging from room temperature (300 K) to millikelvin temperature.

Applications extend from commercial to fundamental metrology and physics.

Our main endeavour is to undertake exciting physics experiments. However, we are also aware of "spin-off" applications. Much of our work has been patented and commercialised and the development of this technology has helped us to build new tools that can in turn be used for fundamental physics applications.

Our group undertakes projects that are suitable for the engineering technologist to the most fundamentally inclined physicist.

• Fundamental physics: Lorentz Invariance Tests, CPT maser. Collaboration with European Institutes: Sytèmes de Référence Temps Espace, FEMTO-ST, XLIM, Humboldt University
  
• Commercial applications: Microwave interferometer and sapphire technology with PSI Pty Ltd.
• Space applications: Ground Station for the European Space Agency's ACES mission. Time transfer Perth-Sydney, collaboration with NMI, Sytèmes de Référence Temps Espace.
• Quantum Metrology within the ARC Centre of Excellence, EQUS
  

For general information about this Division contact Professor Michael Tobar.

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Optical Division

In our laboratory we can synthesise and measure the frequency of radiation at any chosen place in the visible spectrum. We do this using a highly innovative technique ("the frequency comb") that avoids many of the pitfalls of traditional methods: the importance of this approach is recognised in the awarding of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physics to Ted Hänsch and Jan Hall.

These high-quality light signals can be used in high accuracy spectroscopy, and thereby used to test certain aspects of Quantum Mechanics.

Nonetheless, it is necessary to develop many other technologies to support this work.

• Optical Atomic Clocks based on laser cooled Calcium and Rubidium. Also Iodine loaded into hollow-core optical fibre (with University of Bath and the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, USA).
• High Performance Oscillators: all-sapphire FPs, silica micro-resonators with the University of Otago.
• High Precision Spectroscopy: using an atomic beam device and optical frequency comb.
• Frequency Comb research: developing simpler optical synthesis technology for use in the field, such as the calibration of astronomical instrumentation.

For general information about this Division contact A/Prof Andre Luiten

You can also view teaching materials in courses taught by Andre, Tom Stace or John McFerran.

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Local Oscillator Division

This division is directed towards creating extremely high stability frequency references from the microwave to the optical domain.

Modern developments in VLBI radio astronomy have pushed the frequencies as high as millimeter waves. The hydrogen maser currently used as a local oscillator (LO) limits the image resolution above 100 GHz. This division is developing cryogen-free cryogenic sapphire oscillators (CSO) and low noise frequency synthesis to provide a LO two orders of magnitude better than the hydrogen maser.

The use of pulse-tube cryocoolers and a specially designed low-vibration cryostat has allowed this state-of-the-art development. Low noise frequency synthesis techniques are also being developed.

The work is open to researchers in the areas of engineering (electrical and mechanical) and applied physics.

Optical frequency standards are currently limited by the stability of the probe laser. It is planned to use a pulse-tube cryocooler and an ultra-low-vibration cryostat to overcome this limitation.

Necessarily there is overlap with both the Optical and Radio Frequency divisions.

Frequency standards applications: collaborations with the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) and National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan.

Astronomy applications: collaborations with MIT Haystack Observatory, Poseidon Scientific Instruments, Curtin Institute for Radio Astronomy (CIRA) and CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF).

For general information about this Division contact Research Professor John Hartnett.

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