Kudos to our Eureka Prize victors led by Professor Esselle

Innovative Metasurfaces Revolutionise Satellite Communication

Distinguished Professor Karu Esselle and his team of researchers have garnered significant recognition for their ground-breaking research endeavours in Australian science. Their remarkable achievements were acknowledged through the 2023 Department of Defence Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia. The award ceremony took place in Sydney on the 23rd of Wednesday, 2024.

Central to the team's accomplishments is the creation of their pioneering scientific approach termed "near-field phase transformation." This innovative technique led them to fabricate ultra-thin disks, capable of emulating the functions of thicker materials known as metasurfaces. This breakthrough has the potential to reshape satellite communication and stands as a testament to the team's ingenuity.

We have introduced an entirely novel, adaptable, and simplified methodology that holds the promise of enhancing satellite communication by facilitating the precise steering of a broad-spectrum beam.

Professor Karu Esselle
Distinguished Professor, School of Electrical and Data Science Engineering

The incorporation of metasurfaces into satellite communication holds substantial promise for elevating efficiency, security, and accuracy. Envisioned benefits encompass heightened dependability and expedited communication with satellites. By manipulating electromagnetic waves at the proximate near-field level, new avenues emerge for surmounting the constraints inherent in conventional antenna systems.

Professor Esselle also envisions the prospect of commercialising these innovations in diverse ways, hinting at a broad spectrum of potential applications.

Heartfelt congratulations are in order for the Metasurfaces team, as their exceptional achievement paves the way for remarkable advancements.