Andre Luiten

Professor Andre Luiten

IPAS Director - Chair of Experimental Physics, Chair of Experimental Physics

Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing

Division of Research and Innovation

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Prof Andre Luiten FAIP GAICD is Director of the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and Chair of Experimental Physics at the University of Adelaide. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics. Andre obtained his PhD in Physics in 1997 for which he was awarded the Bragg Gold Medal. He has subsequently held three prestigious Fellowships from the ARC. For his efforts Andre was the joint inaugural winner of the WA Premier’s Prize for Early Career Achievement in Science. Andre came to the University of Adelaide in 2013 to take up the Chair of Experimental Physics and a South Australian Research Fellowship from the Premier’s Research and Innovation Fund. He has published 6 book chapters and authored 118 journal papers (>4,323 citations) and raised over $22.5M for research. The excellence of his research has been recognised by the award of the Barry Inglis Medal from the National Measurement Institute, the Australian Institute of Physics’ Alan Walsh Medal for Service to Industry and the prestigious 2018 Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in safeguarding Australia. Andre is also the co-founder and managing Director of Cryoclock Pty Ltd, a start-up company recently named Avalon 2019 Defence SME of the Year.

 
Precision Measurement

For detailed information, please see our website.

A defining feature of our technological society is a hunger for more accurate measurement and sensing. An ever-increasing capability in this field is demanded by the need to push more information through existing communication channels, make smaller features on chips to deliver more computing power in less space, and deliver revolutionary new technologies such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

This quest for ever-better measurement is also found at the heart of physics where it is perhaps the central strand of the field: many of the greatest discoveries in physics arose from measurements of important quantities to high accuracy.

The Precision Measurements Group (PMG) aims to build instruments that can make measurements with world-class precision and accuracy. We are interested in measurements that are of high value and interest to fundamental physics as well as in industrial, biological and defence contexts.

Time (or equivalently frequency) is the most precisely measurable quantity of all. For example, modern atomic clocks can deliver long-term precision of just parts in 10(^18) – corresponding to a time error of less than a second over the lifetime of the Universe. This performance is the culmination of a 10 million-fold improvement over the last 70 years.

Using various sensors it is possible to translate many other physical parameters into a frequency and hence use the power and precision of frequency measurement protocols in many other fields.

Although this approach may seem rather esoteric it turns out that many modern key devices in modern society are based on high-quality clocks, lasers and oscillators: the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite system, magnetic resonance imaging, radar, optical fibre communications, even mobile phones.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2014 - ongoing Director, Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) University of Adelaide
    2013 - ongoing Chair of Experimental Physics, School of Physical Sciences University of Adelaide
    2013 - ongoing South Australian Research Fellow South Australian State Government
    2011 - 2013 Winthrop Professor University of Western Australia
    2010 - 2013 ARC Future Fellow University of Western Australia
    2009 - 2011 Professor University of Western Australia
    2002 - 2009 Associate Professor University of Western Australia
    2000 - 2004 ARC Australian Research Fellow University of Western Australia
    1997 - 1999 ARC Postdoctoral Fellow University of Western Australia
    1996 - 1996 International Visiting Fellow Instituto Nationale de Fisica Nuclear, Paris
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2018 Award Alan Walsh Medal for Service to Industry Australian Institute of Physics Aruba -
    2018 Award Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia Australian Museum/DSTG Australia 10000
    2017 Award Barry Inglis Medal Australian National Measurement Institute Australia -
    2015 Fellowship Fellow Australian Institute of Physics - -
    2002 Award Inaugural Premier's Prize for Early Career Achievement in Science Premier's Department, Government of Western Australia - -
    2001 Award Commendation for Honours supervision University for Western Australia - -
    2000 Award Young Scientist Award in Radio-Science Union Radio-Scientifique Internationale France -
    1997 Award Bragg Medal for best Physics PhD thesis in Australia Australian Institute of Physics - -
    1996 Award Outstanding Distinction for PhD Thesis University of Western Australia - -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    1991 - 1996 University of Western Australia Australia PhD
    1990 - 1990 University of Western Australia Australia BSc (Hons)
    1987 - 1989 University of Western Australia Australia BSc
Competitive Research Funding

Over my career I have attracted more than $18M in research grants with $11.5M for grants on which I am the lead investigator. I have been the recipient of three extremely competitive ARC Fellowships. Over the last five years the dividends of my efforts have become apparent with the award of research grants from a broad range of sources.  That is, not just from the Australian Research Council, but also from the Wellcome Trust in the UK, the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the USA as well as collaborative research programs with the National Measurement Institute, Rio Tinto and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) among others.

Date Project/ No. Investigators Funding Body Amount
2019-2021 Delivering an Australian Portable Quantum Optical Clock A Luiten, Charlie Ironside, William Rickard, Tom Stace, Mirko Lobino, David Pulford DST Next Generation Technology Fund Quantum Technologies $1M
2019-2021 Upgrade of Environmental Tracer Detection Facility A Luiten, P Light CSIRO $500k
2019-2020 Packaging a Quantum Magnetometer Array for Anti-Submarine Warfare Andre Luiten, Chris Perrella, Phil Light, Scott Foster DST Next Generation Technology Fund Quantum Technologies $456k
2017 Acoustic Levitation Facility for High Pressure Multiphase Systems Research E May, K Swaminatha-Iyer, Y Liu, M John, D Zhang, X Lou, M Tade, V Pareek, C Phan, L Wang, T Rufford, T Stace, A Luiten ARC, Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) $193K
2017-2018 Establishment of 3D Metal Printing Facility (AMARN) A Luiten, H Ebendorff-Heidepriem SA State Government $1.3M
2016-2017 Ultra-High Quality Signal Generation and Signal Distribution for Over-the-Horizon Radar A Luiten DST Group - CTD $1.85M
2016-19 Developing the Cryogenic Sapphire Oscillator – various grants A Luiten DST Group $1.9M
2016-2017 Next-Generation Photonic Magnetic Sensing for Geophysical Exploration A Luiten ARI, Commercialization Acceleration Scheme $45K
2016 Australian National Facility for Noble-Gas Radio-Isotope Measurements A Luiten, R Sang, A Suckow, P Light, D Kielpinski, P Masque, C Oldham, D Cendon, RDC McPhail, M Hotchkis, S Eggins ARC, Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF)

$600K

2015-2016 SA Photonics Roadmap A Luiten Department of State Development $200K
2015-2016 Support for ARC Centre of Excellence A Luiten Department of State Development, PRIF, Collaboration Pathways $150K
2015 European Fellowship A Luiten Go8 $20K
2014-2016 Magnetometry A Luiten DST Group $150K
2014 Compact Optical Frequency Standard A Luiten ARI, Commercialization Acceleration Scheme $50K
2014 Compact Optical Frequency Standard A Luiten Denis Harwood Scheme $25K
2014-2015 Untangling complex molecular spectra with an optical frequency comb J Anstie, A Luiten , R Butler, R Yazbeck, J Thwaites, J Ye ARC, Linkage Project $369K
2014-2016 Disease Diagnosis through Breath Analysis J Anstie, A Luiten PRIF, Catalyst Grant $50K
2014-2016 The Ultimate Laser Source A Luiten PRIF, International Research Grant $258K
2013-2015 Foundation technology for quantum measurement, sensing and computing R Scholten, M Biercuk, L Hollenberg, D Simpson, K Helmerson, L Turner, R Anderson, A Luiten, R Starr ARC, Linkage Project $410K
2014-2015 Ultra-stable optical frequency references for Earth and Space applications A Luiten DAAD Go8 Australia –Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme $20K
2013-2015 Ultra-high spectral purity lasers for tests of relativity and atomic clocks A Luiten, J Hartnett, P Light, A Peters, T Kessler ARC, Discovery Project $850K
2013 High performance clock facility for new-generation radar, imaging, measurement and radio-astronomy applications A Luiten, J Hartnett, M Tobar, M Rioja, R Dodson, P Light, D Gray, W Al-Ashwal, D Abbott, G Santarelli, M Wouters ARC, Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) $300K
2012-2015 Thermometry at the double shot-noise limit T Stace, A Luiten National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Grant $150K
2012-2015 Avoiding cryogenic solids formation in liquefied natural gas production B Graham, A Luiten, M Johns, E May, K Marsh, E Fridjonsson ARC, Linkage Project $823K
2012 Quantum instrumentation A Luiten (with U. Bristol, U. Glasgow, U. Limoges, U. Queensland) Research Collaboration Award $17K
2012 Workshop grant A Luiten UQ-UWA Bilateral Research Collaboration $19K
2012 A Raman facility for advancing research supporting Australia's natural gas, oil, coal and minerals industries E May, M Johns, G Hefter, A Luiten, E Wanless, X Lou, N Burke, J Diniz da Costa, K Hall, K Marsh, J Boxall, P May, R Trengove, M Stockenhuber, M Radny, G Webber, T Stace, S Smart, N Maeda, Y Seo, K Kozielski, C Jaraula, C Phan ARC, Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) $275K
2011-2013 Creating a national time and frequency network A Luiten, K Baldwin, B Orr, J Hartnett, S Tingay, J Dickey, P Quinn, J Lawrence, P Light, R Warrington, G Aben, I Philips, A Tzioumis, G Santarelli, D McClelland, V Sharma, P Fisk ARC, Linkage Project $600K
2011-2013 Ground station facility for membership of the atomic clock ensemble in space mission M Tobar,  A Luiten, J Hartnett, E Ivanov, C Salomon, W Featherstone, P Teunissen, C Vale, B Hall, R Warrington ARC, Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) $1,230K
2011 Collaborative grant for theory and experimental interaction A Luiten UWA-UQ BCRF $30K
2011-2012 Medical laser magnetometry A Luiten Wellcome Trust £354K
2010-2013 The quest for ultimate measurement precision A Luiten ARC, Future Fellowship $789K
2010-2012 Redefining temperature A Luiten, E May, M Moldover, C Daussy ARC, Discovery Project $570K
2008-2010 Exploring synergies between frontier microphotonics and advanced time and frequency technology A Luiten, J McFerran, C Locke, W Bowen, F Benabid, J Hall ARC, Discovery Project $480K
2006-2008 Developing new clocks for Australia: testing the assumptions of modern physics A Luiten, E Ivanov, J McFerran, C Locke, A Clairon, F Benabid ARC, Discovery Project $630K
2005-2007 Micro-engineered optical fibre clocks A Luiten, J McFerran, F Benabid ARC, Linkage International $22K
2005 A facility for ultra-precise time and frequency transfer: creating an Australian user group for the ESA atomic clock ensemble in space mission

M Tobar, P Fisk, C Salomon, J Hartnett, E Ivanov, A Luiten, W Featherstone

ARC, Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) $242K
2004-2006

Development of optical clocks and their applications to precision frequency measurements and time keeping

E Ivanov, A Luiten, L Hollberg, J Ye ARC, Linkage International $36K
2003-2007 Creation of new precision optical and microwave technologies and their application to testing the fundamental of physics A Luiten, M Tobar, E Ivanov, L Hollberg, C Salomon, P Guillon, R Kovacich ARC, Discovery Project $1,846K
2002 A transportable optical frequency counter, synthesizer and super-continuum generator A Luiten, D Sampson, P Hannaford, D Kane ARC, Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) $530K
2000-2002 Frequency chain and optical clock A Luiten ARC, Large Grant $272K
2000-2005 Towards an optical clock A Luiten ARC, ARF Fellowship $345K
1998 Optical frequency synthesis and counting A Luiten DIST Workshop Support $17K
1997-1999 Measuring the frequency of light A Luiten ARC APD Fellowship $157K

 

Current Teaching

Physics 1A - Mechanics

Physics III - Lasers and Photonics

Physics IV - Non-Linear Optics

 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 Co-Supervisor Compact Clock for Small Satellite Applications: Protocol Development for Increased Stability Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Emily Jane Ahern
    2021 Co-Supervisor Distant clock synchronisation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Sabrina Slimani
    2020 Co-Supervisor Using an Optical Frequency Comb to Perform Gas Spectroscopy Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Mr Joshua Whitaker-Lockwood
    2020 Principal Supervisor NGTF quantum technology stream quest to build a portable atomic clock Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Benjamin Robert White
    2018 Co-Supervisor Cold Atoms for Quantum Information Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Jonathan Peter Hedger
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2015 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Towards Purely Laser Based Generation and Trapping of Metastable Krypton Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Milad Abou Dakka
    2015 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Nonlinear Magneto-Optical Rotation in Rubidium Vapour Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Nathanial Morgan Wilson
    2015 - 2019 Principal Supervisor High-Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy with an Optical Frequency Comb Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Sarah Katherine Scholten
    2015 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Cold-Atom Loading of Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fibre for Quantum Technologies Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Ashby Hilton
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2017 - ongoing Member National Committees for Science | Australian Academy of Science Australian Academy of Science Australia
    2015 - 2016 Member Innovation Voucher Program Government of South Australia Australia
    2015 - 2016 Member SA Future Photonics Industry Roadmap Government of South Australia Australia
    2015 - 2015 Co-Chair Joint Program Chair Australian and New Zealand Conference on Optics and Photonics (ANZCOP) Australia
    2011 - 2011 Chair Sub-committee Chair Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics and International Quantum Electronics Conference Australia
    2009 - 2016 Member Technical Program Committee International Frequency Control Symposium -
    2009 - 2016 Member Technical Program Committee European Frequency Forum -
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2015 - ongoing Member Commission on Symbols, Units, Nomenclature, Atomic Masses and Fundamental Constants (SUNAMCO) of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics -
    2006 - 2010 Member European Science Foundation Grant Panel for Euroquasar: Quantum Standards and Metrology -
  • Position: IPAS Director - Chair of Experimental Physics, Chair of Experimental Physics
  • Email: andre.luiten@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134380
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: The Braggs, floor 1
  • Org Unit: Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, Physics

Connect With Me
External Profiles