Instrumentation and space technologies

Collaborative research and industry engagement

We work with researchers at Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) to develop new technologies and deliver innovative instruments to major ground-based observatories.

Our expertise in telescope design, optomechanical engineering, optical design and engineering also makes us ideally positioned to contribute to the design and fabrication of instruments for satellite telescopes, CubeSats and Earth-observation satellites.

Learn more about the projects we are undertaking, the researchers engaged in them, and who you can contact to get involved.

Novel spacecraft optical systems

The AAO are innovating in the area of novel space-based optical systems for applications outside of astronomy.

For example, we are working on an agile steering mirror than can point a telescope to another location on Earth within a fraction of a second.

Technology such as this can increase the mission efficiency for projects like the Aquawatch mission, which will monitor water quality across the entire Australian continent.

Various HDR projects are available:

• simulating impact of new capabilities
• designing custom optical systems
• space qualifying our technology.

Reach out to the supervisors for more information.

Supervisors:

• Jon Lawrence
• Lee Spitler

Astrophotonics

Astrophotonics is the application of photonics to astronomical instrumentation and AAO is at the forefront of this rapidly developing field.

Photonic technologies have the potential to transform astronomical instruments through miniaturisation, stability and new functionalities impossible with traditional optics.

There are multiple directions of study available, including both theoretical modelling and laboratory based work. Projects include:

• designing miniature spectrographs, with a fraction of the size and cost of traditional instruments
• OH molecule suppression using optical fibres to filter atmospheric emission, enabling enhanced observations of the distant universe
• silicon photonics, which use novel ‘optical circuit boards’ to deliver truly miniaturised instruments.

Supervisor: Simon Ellis

Adaptive Optics for wide-field astronomical systems and high-resolution microscopy

The full scientific return of modern ground-based astronomical instruments relies on combining large telescope apertures with adaptive optics systems capable of delivering high image quality over wide fields of view. Similar challenges arise in advanced optical microscopy, where aberrations limit resolution and image fidelity across extended fields.

Achieving wide-field correction requires adaptive optics architectures that go beyond classical single-conjugate approaches, enabling the compensation of spatially varying aberrations across large fields of view in both astronomical and microscopy applications.

Research projects in this area focus on the design and implementation of wide-field adaptive optics systems, including novel AI-based algorithms, distributed sensing approaches, and system-level optimisation. We offer projects in astronomical instrumentation and optical microscopy, with an emphasis on algorithm development through simulations, performance evaluation via laboratory experiments, and the implementation of novel concepts on 8-metre-class telescopes.

Supervisor: Dani Guzman

Make space safer with the Huntsman Telescope

This project leverages the Huntsman Telescope, an autonomous, multi lens imaging array, to advance rapid colour based characterisation of satellites. With the ability to capture simultaneous multi band observations, Huntsman provides a unique platform for testing new imaging architectures relevant to space domain awareness.

The student will evaluate different system configurations, quantify performance limits, and develop physics informed models that interpret multi band and temporal satellite signatures. This work will help define when and how broadband imaging becomes most diagnostic and will support the development of operationally useful workflows for space-based object identification.

Potential research directions include:

• Optimising multi spectral observing modes for targets in both night time and daytime conditions
• Developing analysis pipelines for spectral temporal signature interpretation
• Testing new Huntsman configurations through targeted observing campaigns
• Exploring space domain awareness (SDA) focused applications of rapid multi band imaging

Supervisor: Lee Spitler

An ultra-stable infrared spectrograph to search for Earth-like planets

Discovering a habitable world in another stellar system is one of the most compelling scientific endeavours of our time.

This project will develop a testbed instrument for tackling this challenge, combining novel technologies from astrophotonics and adaptive optics into an innovative spectrograph design that will enable the measurement precision required to detect rocky planets around small and red stars.

This project involves learning optical raytracing software (Zemax) as well as CAD software to design the optical mechanics, and developing expertise in assembling and aligning optical and laser systems, with potential collaboration with Subaru Observatory (Hawai‘i).

Supervisor: Christian Schwab