| Biography | |
|---|---|
 Prof. Rich Mildren Macquarie University, Australia |
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| Title: Diamond for extreme lasers, beam polarization manipulation and novel surface phenomena | |
| Abstract: Diamond’s extreme properties in the context of quantum applications is well known, however, it also has an array of unusual thermal and nonlinear optical properties that present substantial opportunities in related areas. We have been investigating the properties of bulk and surface optics of bulk single crystals. We show that diamond reveals unexpected behaviour in several key aspects and is enabling extreme performance in areas as diverse as coherent beam generation, nanostructured diamond devices and quantum randomness. | |
| Biography: Rich Mildren (Australian Research Council Future Fellow 2010-2014) is Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. His research is in the development of novel and versatile photonic sources, instrumentation and applications. His PhD and early postdoctoral research was in the plasma kinetics of high power metal vapour lasers. He has studied ultrafast lasers at the National Research Council in Pisa, Italy. For 3 years (2005-2008) he led R&D for a University spin-off company in wavelength-switchable medical lasers, during which time he brought several medical laser products through to the stage of medical device regulatory approval. His most recent focus, conducted in the MQ Photonics Research Centre, is in the nonlinear optical properties of Group IV materials, particularly diamond (for more detail see his Diamond Laser Group webpage). He has 4 awarded patents and published 90 peer-reviewed journal articles. In 2017, he was recipient of the Australian Museum Eureka Award for Outstanding Science for Safeguarding Australia. | |
