Research

I am a Forrest Fellow in the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research where I am working on developing laser systems for high-precision measurement and high-bandwidth communications between spacecraft and ground stations.

Previously, I was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Quantum Science at the Australian National University, as part of the Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems. I worked on developing  optical phased arrays and other laser systems for metrology and communication.

My PhD research involved the development of stabilized reference frequency transfer systems for the Square Kilometre Array telescope. Stabilized transmission systems are required to synchronize the thousands of radio antennas in the array to the ultra-high precision required for them to act together as one giant telescope, and be able to peer deeper into the cosmos than ever before, allowing astronomers to study the first stars and galaxies that formed in our universe.

Publications

• Karpathakis, S.F.E., Dix-Matthews, B.P., Walsh, S.M., McCann, A.S., Gozzard, D.R., Frost, A.M., Gravestock, C.T., Schediwy, S.W. (2023) Ground-to-drone optical pulse position modulation demonstration as testbed for lunar communications. Drones
• Walsh, S.M., Karpathakis, S.F.E., McCann, A.S., Dix-Matthews, B.P., Frost, A.M., Gozzard, D.R., Gravestock, C.T., Schediwy, S.W. (2022) Demonstration of 100 Gbps coherent free-space optical communications at LEO tracking rates. Sci. Rep.
• Gozzard, D.R., Craine, R., Hickey, D., Martin, A., Shen, W., Sones, B. (2022) Optical couplers and step-index fibers fabricated using FDM 3D printers. Opt. Lett.
• Walsh, S., Frost, A., Howard, L., Gozzard, D., Karpathakis, S., Dix-Matthews, B., Gravestock, C., McCann, A. & Schediwy, S. (2022) Angle-of-arrival variability of retroreflected lasers despite atmospheric reciprocity. Opt. Lett.
• Hendre, A.,… Gozzard, D.,… Wilkinson, A. (2022) Precise timescale, frequency, and time-transfer technology for the Square Kilometre Array. JATIS
• Gozzard, D. R., Howard, L. A., Dix-Matthews, B. P.*, Karpathakis, S.*, Gravestock, C. & Schediwy, S. W. (2021) Ultra-stable free-space laser links for a global network of optical atomic clocks. Physical Review Letters
• Gozzard, D.R., Walsh, S. & Weinhold, T. (2021) Vulnerability of Satellite Quantum Key Distribution to Disruption from Ground-Based Lasers. Sensors
• Gozzard, D. R. & Zadnik, M. G. (2021). Contribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy. PRPER
• Dix-Matthews, B. P.*, Gozzard, D. R., Karpathakis, S. F. E.*, Gravestock, C. T. & Schediwy, S. W. (2021). Ultra-wideband free-space optical phase stabilization. IEEE Comm. Lett.
• Dix-Matthews, B. P.*, Schediwy, S. W., Gozzard, D. R., Savalle, E., Esnault, F-X.,  Lévèque, T., Gravestock, C., D’Mello, D., Karpathakis, S.*, Tobar, M. & Wolf, P. (2021). Point-to-point stabilized optical frequency transfer with active optics. Nat. Comm.
• Gozzard, D. R., Spollard, J. T.*, Roberts, L. E., Sibley, P. G. & Shaddock, D. A. (2020). Optical vortex beams with controllable orbital angular momentum using an optical phased array. OSA Continuum.
• Karpathakis, S. F. E.*, Gravestock, C. T., Gozzard, D. R., Pulbrook, T. R.* & Schediwy, S. W. (2020). Phase synchronization system receiver module for the mid-frequency Square Kilometre Array. Jour. Astro. Tele. Instru. & Syst.
• Gozzard, D. R., Roberts, L. E., Spollard, J. T.*, Sibley, P. G. & Shaddock, D. A. (2020). Fast beam steering with and optical phased array. Opt. Lett.
• Dix-Matthews, B. P.*, Schediwy, S. W., Gozzard, D. R., Driver, S., Schreiber, K. U., Carmann, R. & Tobar, M. (2020). Methods for coherent optical Doppler orbitography. JoG.
• Ackley, K,…Gozzard, D.,…Ward, K. (2020). Neutron Star Extreme Matter Observatory: a kilohertz-band gravitational-wave detector in the global network. PASA
• Schediwy, S. W., Gozzard, D. R., Gravestock, C., Stobie, S.*, Whitaker, R., Malan, J. A., Boven, P. & Grainge, K. (2019). The Mid-Frequency Square Kilometre Array Phase Synchronisation System. PASA
• Gozzard, D. R., Schediwy, S. W., Stone, B., Messineo, M.* & Tobar, M. (2018). Stabilized free-space optical frequency transfer. PRApp
• Gozzard, D. R., Schediwy, S. W., Whitaker, R. & Grainge, K. (2018). Simple stabilized radio-frequency transfer with optical phase actuation. IEEE PTL.
• Gozzard, D. R., Schediwy, S. W. & Grainge, K. (2018). Simultaneous transfer of stabilized optical and microwave frequencies over fiber. IEEE PTL.
• Gozzard, D. R., Schediwy, S. W., Dodson, R., Rioja, M., Hill, M., Lennon, B., McFee, J., Mirtschin, P., Stevens, J. & Grainge, K. (2017). Astronomical verification of a stabilized frequency reference transfer system for the Square Kilometre Array. AJ.
• Gozzard, D. R., Schediwy, S. W., Wallace, B., Gamatham, R. & Grainge, K. (2017). Characterization of optical frequency transfer over 154 km of aerial fiber. Opt. Lett.
• Schediwy, S. W., Gozzard, D. R., Stobie, S.* Malan, J. A. & Grainge, K. (2017). Stabilized microwave-frequency transfer using optical phase sensing and actuation. Opt. Lett.
• Grainge, K., Alachkar, B., Amy, S. et al. (2017). Square Kilometre Array: the radio telescope of the XXII century. Astron. Rep.
• Schediwy, S. W., Gozzard, D. Baldwin, K. G. H. Orr, B. J. Warrington, R. B. Aben, G. & Luiten, A. N. (2013). High-precision optical-frequency dissemination on branching optical-fiber networks. Opt. Lett.

Invited talks and colloquia

Slides for my invited talks and colloquia are available here.

• Towards ground-to-space laser links for precision metrology – IFCS-EFTF 2023 (upcoming)
• Towards ground-to-space laser links for metrology and communications – CLEO 2022
• Disrupting quantum communications with mobile laser terminals – CSIRO Optical and Quantum Communications for Space Forum (Nov 2021)
• Connecting WA to the Stars – UWA DVCR’s Webinar (Jun 2021)
• Phase stabilization for space science applications – CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science colloquium (May 2021)
• Stabilized frequency transfer for radio astronomy and space science – Australian Centre for Liquefied Natural Gass Futures (July 2020)
• Stabilized frequency transfer for radio astronomy and space science applications – University of Western Australia, Perth (Apr 2018)
• Stabilized frequency transfer for the SKA – CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility colloquium, Marsfield (Feb 2017)

Technical reports and other research output

• SmartSat 2021, Project 1-01 Milestone 5+6b, SmartSat Technical Report, SmartSat, Adelaide, Australia.
• SmartSat 2020, Project 1-01 Milestone 4+6a, SmartSat Technical Report, SmartSat, Adelaide, Australia.
• SmartSat 2020, Project 1-01 Milestone 3, SmartSat Technical Report, SmartSat, Adelaide, Australia.
• SmartSat 2020, Project 1-01 Milestone 2, SmartSat Technical Report, SmartSat, Adelaide, Australia.
• SmartSat 2020, Project 1-01 Milestone 1, SmartSat Technical Report, SmartSat, Adelaide, Australia.
• Schediwy, S. W., Gozzard, D. R., (2018). SAT.STFR.FRQ (UWA) Detail Design Report, SKA-TEL-SADT-0000390, Square Kilometre Array Organization.
• Gozzard, D. R., (2016). Notes on calculating the relationship between coherence loss and Allan deviation, Memo, SKA-TEL-SADT-0000619, Square Kilometre Array Organization.
• Gozzard, D. R. & Schediwy, S. W., (2016). STFR.FRQ.UWA astronomical verification, Tech. Rep. SKATEL-SADT-0000524, Square Kilometre Array Organization.
• Schediwy, S. W. & Gozzard, D. R., (2015). UWA South African SKA site long-haul overhead fibre field trial report, Tech. Rep. SKA-TEL-SADT-0000109, Square Kilometre Array Organization.

Media releases

• WA researchers lead the way in hi-tech communications
• Laser Propagating Through Air Sets Stability Record
• Record-breaking laser link could help us test whether Einstein was right
• Moon to Earth: WA to host space communications station
• Synchronisation System Designs Chosen For SKA Telescopes
• ICRAR researchers’ precision on point
• Synchronization System Designs Chosen for SKA Telescopes
• What to do when your atomic clock just isn’t accurate enough
• Australian Researchers Have Developed Ultra-Accurate Synchronisation Tech for Largest Telescope
• West Australian Innovation Could Save SKA Millions