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Department of Physics and Astronomy

Rich Mildren

Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Deputy Director, MQ Photonics Research Centre

Contact Details

Rich Mildren (Australian Research Council Future Fellow 2010-2014) is a Professor of Physics in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. His research is in the development of novel and versatile photonic sources, instrumentation and applications. His PhD (1997) and early postdoctoral research (1998-2004) was in the plasma kinetics of high-power gas lasers. During this period, he was a visiting fellow at the National Research Council in Pisa, Italy, supported by a scholarship from the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. 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 advanced nonlinear optical materials such as diamond (for more detail see his Diamond Laser Group webpage). He has 6 awarded patents and authored 100+ peer-reviewed journal articles. He was the recipient of the Australian Museum Eureka Award for Outstanding Science for Safeguarding Australia in 2017 and elected an OSA Fellow in 2018.




Research Areas

  • Diamond lasers and photonics
  • Laser-induced phenomena on diamond surfaces
  • High power lasers and applications

Journal Publications List (Post 2008)

Google Scholar Profile

Notice Board

PhD Scholarship available now in the diamond photonics area. Please email me with any questions or for help with the application process. Available for start in Semester 2 in 2023 for domestic and internationals applicants.

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