Chris Perrella

Dr Chris Perrella

Grant-Funded Researcher (B)

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

My research aims to push the limits of precision measurement for both fundamental and applied research. Liaising with industry and defence has made my research have real-world impact through development of measurement devices for use outside the laboratory. I have supervised the development of a number of experiments: compact high-stability optical clock, an optical magnetometer, and high-resolution molecular spectroscopy, and atomic spectroscopy within hollow core fibre. I'm now applying this knowledge to a biological setting to extract maximum information from biological systems utilising optical techniques.

I was awarded my PhD almost in 2014 from the University of Western Australia. After submission of my thesis, I accepted a University Research Associate position at the University of Adelaide within the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS).

Please see my research group's website.

Work I'm currently working on:

  • Optical Trapping: We develop novel trapping techniques to observe, measure and analyse biomechanical properties in the fertilised embryo to non-invasively quantify embryo quality and health
  • Speckle Measurements: Light scattered off a surface resultant interference pattern has a grainy appearance which we call speckle. This speckle is often considered as a loss of any information contained in the laser light. However, the speckle is actually rich in information about both the laser properties, environment, and the scatterer. We have used this phenomenon to perform highly accurate measurements of laser parameters, such as attometre-resolved wavelength measurement and characterisation of the orbital angular momentum and polarisation of the light beam.
  • Low Light Imaging: Imaging of biological samples typically requires low light levels to ensure the sample is not damaged. We are exploring what the best methods are to create high resolution and high signal-to-noise images in low-light conditions.

Previous projects I've worked on:

  • Compact High-Stability Optical Clock: I led the development of an optical clock based on a two-photon transition within rubidium which is performing at the same level as the best commercially available frequency standard (the Hydrogen maser), while being 10-fold smaller and lighter. This is possible through using two different colour photons to excite the two-photon transition, leading to an increase excitation efficiency of a million-fold. This technology is breaking the nexus between size, weight and performance of optical clocks.
  • Optical Magnetometry: We developed two optical magnetometers for defence and industry applications. I have pioneered techniques to greatly increase the bandwidth of DC atomic magnetometers broadening their practical applications. These magnetometers have been tested outside the lab in real world environments.
  • High-Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy: We are developing a trace gas spectrometer based on a laser frequency comb light source and high precision absorption measurement. We have demonstrated a measurement accuracy of 1% and a precision of 0.04% for measurement of the number density of the common isotopes of Carbon Dioxide. We are applying this to biological samples, to measure Carbon Dioxide produced from yeast, leading up to measurements of biomarkers in exhaled breath for medical diagnostic applications.
  • Non-Linear Spectroscopy: I was the first to show strong light-light interactions within large-diameter hollow-core fibre, achieved through exciting a two-photon atomic transition of the atoms. This has been utilised to perform quantum memories and frequency conversion within hollow-core fibre for quantum information processing.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2013 - 2025 University Postdoctoral Fellow University of Adelaide

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2023 Award ANZOS Mid-Career Prize Australian and New Zealand Optical Society (ANZOS) Australia -
    2023 Award ANZOS John Love Award Australian and New Zealand Optical Society (ANZOS) Australia -
    2023 Recognition Commendation Department of Defence Australia -
    2023 Award Measurement Impact Awards National Measurement Institute Australia -
    2023 Award People’s Choice Award National Measurement Institute Australia -
    2023 Award Tall Poppy Award Australian Institute of Policy and Science Australia -
    2023 Award Best Outreach Activity Award Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing Australia -
    2022 Recognition 2022 OPTICA Senior Member OPTICA United States -
    2022 Award Best Industry Collaboration Award Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing Australia -
    2019 Award Best Poster Prize, Quantum Sensing & Magnetometry Physikzentrum, Bad Honnef Germany -
    2011 Scholarship Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship Australian Government Australia -
    2009 Scholarship University Postgraduate Award Scholarship University of Western Australia Australia -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2009 - 2013 University of Western Australia Australia PhD
    2008 - 2008 University of Western Australia Australia B.Sc. (Hons)
    2005 - 2007 University of Western Australia Australia B.Sc.

  • Research Interests
    Nonlinear Optics and Spectroscopy Optical Physics Optics Photonics and Electro-Optical Engineering Quantum Optics

Over the last 6 years, this now means that he has had 21 awarded grant applications worth $3.0M, with $757k as Lead Investigator and $2.2M as Co-Investigator.

Date Project Investigators Funding Body Amount

2020 – 2021

Demonstration of a Two-Photon Atomic Clock with Light Shift Suppression using Two-Colour Magic Wavelengths

C. Perrella, A.N. Luiten, S. Scholten, J. Ginges

Asian Office of Aerospace R&D, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

$131,081 

2020 – 2023

Prototyping a Low-Noise Scalar Magnetometer

R. Li, C. Perrella, A.N. Luiten

CSIRO - Science & Industry Endowment Fund, STEM+ Business Research Fellowship

$590,987

2020 – 2023

BreathELISA: Breath analysis for detection of disease

A.N. Luiten, C. Perrella, J. Verjans, R. Yazbek

Asian Office of Aerospace R&D, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

$102,324 

2019

Development of a low-noise scalar magnetometer

C. Perrella, R. Li

University Research Contract

$83,100

2019 – 2020  

Demonstrating a Magic Interrogation Approach for a Two-Photon Atomic Clock

A.N. Luiten, C. Perrella

Asian Office of Aerospace R&D, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

$138,187

2019 – 2021

Packaging a Quantum Magnetometer Array for Anti-Submarine Warfare

A.N. Luiten, C. Perrella, P. Light

Defence Science and Technology Group – NGTF - Quantum Technologies

$455,925

2019 – 2020

Quantum Simulations with Stationary Light in Hollow Fibres

B. Sparkes, A.N. Luiten, C. Perrella, P. Light, J. Hedger, P. Windpassinger, P. Islam, W. Li

Australia-Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme

$22,480

2019

Development of a low-noise magnetometer

A.N. Luiten, C. Perrella

Innovation Connections - Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

$100,000

2018

High-performance optical clock for next-generation precision timing

C. Perrella

Bridging Grant - Global Connections Fund

$50,000

2018

Advanced Fibre Optic Magnetometer for Anti-Submarine Warfare

A.N. Luiten, P. Light, C. Perrella

Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group

$100,000

2017

High-performance optical clock for next-generation precision timing

C. Perrella

Priming Grant - The Global Connections Fund

$7,000

2017

High-Performance Optical Clock for Local Time References and UAV applications

C. Perrella

Competitive Evaluation Research Agreement (CERA) - Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group's 

$100,000

2016

Advanced Fibre Optic Magnetometer for Anti-Submarine Warfare

A.N. Luiten, P. Light, C. Perrella

Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group

$100,000

2015

Demonstrating Spatially Resolved Corrosion Detection

C. Perrella, P. Light, R. Kostecki

IPAS Pilot Project - The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS)

$13,350

2014

UV-guiding silica hollow-core fibre for biological sensing

P. Light, C. Perrella

IPAS Pilot Project - The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS)

$15,000

2014

Micro-Machining Exposed Core Fibre: Taking Sensing to the Next Level

C. Perrella, C. Ironside, P. Light

IPAS Pilot Project - The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS)

$17,000

2013

High-Performance Portable Optical Clock

C. Perrella

Commercial Accelerator Scheme – Adelaide Research & Innovation

$100,000

2013

High-Performance Portable Optical Clock

C. Perrella

Dennis Harwood Grant – IPAS

$25,000

 

I am passionate about communicating the fun and excitement of science to the next generation of scientists. I strive to provide students with the best possible educational experience and outcome.

Recent teaching:

  • 2nd Year – Physics IIB – Optics (2020 - 2022)
  • 3rd Year – Optics and Photonics III (2019 – 2024)
  • Honours Year – Non-Linear Optics (2020 – 2024)

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Enhancing the measurement precision of speckle metrology using quantum light Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Alexander Trowbridge
    2023 Co-Supervisor Enhanced optical microscopy for biology using quantum and classical approaches. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Zane Quess Peterkovic
    2023 Co-Supervisor High precision metrology using laser speckle. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Gabriel Britto Monteiro
    2023 Co-Supervisor Studies of levitated optomechanics using trapped particles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Aman Anil Punse
    2021 Principal Supervisor Compact Clock for Small Satellite Applications: Protocol Development for Increased Stability Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Emily Jane Ahern

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2019 Co-Supervisor High-Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy with an Optical Frequency Comb Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Sarah Katherine Scholten
    2015 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Nonlinear Magneto-Optical Rotation in Rubidium Vapour Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Nathanial Morgan Wilson
    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

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - 2020 Principal Supervisor High Bandwidth Optical Magnetometry University of Adelaide Physics Honours Full Time Kyle Netz
    2019 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Building and Characterising a Miniaturised Optical Magnetometer Sensor Head University of Adelaide Physics Honours Full Time Anna Louise Lykke
    2018 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Compact Two-Photon Rubidium Clock University of Adelaide Physics Honours Part Time Ben White
    2018 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Acquisition and Tracking using Dual Risley Prism Beam Steering University of Adelaide Mechanical Engineering Honours Full Time Jayden Inglis
    2018 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Acquisition and Tracking using Dual Risley Prism Beam Steering University of Adelaide Mechanical Engineering Honours Full Time Luke Heffernan
    2018 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Acquisition and Tracking using Dual Risley Prism Beam Steering University of Adelaide Mechanical Engineering Honours Full Time Zachary Holmes
    2018 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Acquisition and Tracking using Dual Risley Prism Beam Steering University of Adelaide Mechanical Engineering Honours Full Time Nathaniel Shearer
    2017 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Quantum Memories in Rubidium Filled Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fibre University of Adelaide Physics Honours Full Time Jed Rowland
    2016 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Determining Natural Gas Composition Using Frequency Comb Spectroscopy University of Adelaide Petroleum Engineering Honours Full Time Shayan Afshar
    2016 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Determining Natural Gas Composition Using Frequency Comb Spectroscopy University of Adelaide Petroleum Engineering Honours Full Time Gianraffaele Moffa
    2014 - 2014 Principal Supervisor Rubidium spectroscopy with exposed core fibre University of Adelaide Physics Honours Full Time Hannes Griesser
  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (B)
  • Phone: 83132323
  • Email: chris.perrella@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134380
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Molecular Life Sciences, floor Ground Floor
  • Org Unit: School of Biological Sciences
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