Australia’s first processing unit offering world-class facilities in the field of photonics has been opened at The Australian National University by Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr.

The Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) links eight university-based nodes to provide researchers and industry with access to multi-million dollar nanofabrication facilities.

ACT Node director Professor Chennupati Jagadish said that the state of the art facility supports research in semiconductors widely used in communication systems, solid state lighting, solar cells and high density data storage.

“These facilities will be used to develop the next generation of photonic chips for fast communication systems as well as developing high performance nanowire solar cells for Australia’s low carbon future,” Professor Jagadish said.

“While electronics was the technology of the 20th Century, photonics is seen as the technology of the 21st Century.

“ANU will develop metamaterials that will enable flat lenses and super-high resolution imaging microscopes used for biomedical imaging and cloaking devices to be used in technologies of interest to national security. 

“The eight nodes of the facility allow local and international companies to access the multi-user facilities and will fast track technology development,” Professor Jagadish said.

The project is funded under the Federal Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and Education Investment Fund with $14 million invested into the ANU facility.