Professor Aleksandar Rakic
Professor

Aleksandar Rakic

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53569

Background

Aleksandar D. Rakić leads the Photonics and Microwave Engineering group at The University of Queensland focusing on the development of technologies for sensing and imaging across the electromagnetic spectrum including microwave, terahertz wave and optical systems.

Professor Rakić’s research focuses on the principles of laser feedback interferometry with semiconductor lasers, and on the application of these principles to imaging and sensing. Rakić group pioneered the development of several world’s first laser-feedback interferometric sensors including systems based on monolithic Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser arrays (VCSELs), blue-green lasers, terahertz quantum cascade lasers and mid-infrared interband cascade lasers.

His current focus is on the development of sensing and imaging systems exploiting the THz spectrum for applications from security and defence to in vivo biomedical imaging. His other principal contributions relate to the design and characterization of surface-emitting optoelectronic devices (VCSELs and light emitting diodes) and modelling of optical materials.

Availability

Professor Aleksandar Rakic is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Biomedical engineering Engineering Nanophotonics

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Engineering, University of Belgrade
  • Masters (Coursework) of Engineering, University of Belgrade
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Development of laser technologies for early detection of skin cancers

    Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70. Despite advances in treatment regimes, the most significant predictor of survivability remains early detection. My group works on developing a disruptive technology based on the terahertz quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) for the next generation of terahertz imaging systems suitable for early skin cancer detection.

  • Interaction of light and tissue: Integrated electromagnetic models for laser systems and skin

    My group is developing physical and numerical models (phantoms) of human skin, and integrating them with models of laser based optical systems for accurate description of system performance including physical phenomena of light-tissue interactions. Concurrent modeling of laser systems and skin provides unprecedented insight into the performance of terahertz and infrared biomedical imaging systems.

Search Professor Aleksandar Rakic’s works on UQ eSpace

316 works between 1990 and 2026
All (316) Journal Article (151) Other Outputs (8) Edited Outputs (1) Conference Publication (154) Book Chapter (2)

1 - 20 of 316 works

2026

Journal Article

Passive beam shaping for terahertz quantum cascade lasers

Zhou, Tao, Silva, Jorge, Bertling, Karl, Qi, Xiaoqiong, Gillespie, Tim, Torniainen, Jari, Leslie, Andrew, Herbert, Jeremy, Kirkeby, Bent, Ngo, Ethan, Indjin, Dragan, Dean, Paul, Valavanis, Alexander, Li, Lianhe, Linfield, Edmund H., Davies, A. Giles and Rakić, Aleksandar D. (2026). Passive beam shaping for terahertz quantum cascade lasers. IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology, 1-10. doi: 10.1109/tthz.2026.3667748

Passive beam shaping for terahertz quantum cascade lasers

2026

Other Outputs

Quantum cascade laser roadmap

Silvestri, Carlo, Rakić, Aleksandar D., Indjin, Dragan, Khalatpour, Ali, Jirauschek, Christian, Demic, Aleksandar, Ikonic, Zoran, Dean, Paul, Vuković, Nikola, Radovanović, Jelena, Li, Lianhe, Linfield, Edmund, Jaidl, Michael, Unterrainer, Karl, Scalari, Giacomo, Faist, Jérôme, Columbo, Lorenzo Luigi, Brambilla, Massimo, Piccardo, Marco, Dhillon, Sukhdeep, Roy, Mithun, Burghoff, David, Bertling, Karl, Torniainen, Jari, Qi, Xiaoqiong, Taimre, Thomas, Spitz, Olivier, Grillot, Frédéric, Giglio, Marilena ... Borri, Simone (2026). Quantum cascade laser roadmap. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2602.17042

Quantum cascade laser roadmap

2026

Journal Article

The Taj Mahal conservation and the scope of electromagnetic sensing

Bandyopadhyay, Aparajita, Chanda, Puspita, Aalam, Uzair, Khatri, Kashika, Bertling, Karl, Torniainen, Jari, Rakić, Aleksandar D. and Sengupta, Amartya (2026). The Taj Mahal conservation and the scope of electromagnetic sensing. Journal of Physics: Photonics, 8 (1) 012004, 012004. doi: 10.1088/2515-7647/ae3a25

The Taj Mahal conservation and the scope of electromagnetic sensing

2025

Journal Article

Liouvillian superoperator and maxwell–bloch dynamics under optical feedback via the self-mixing effect in terahertz quantum cascade lasers

Demić, Aleksandar, Ikonić, Zoran, Dean, Paul, Qi, Xiaoqiong, Taimre, Thomas, Bertling, Karl, Rakić, Aleksandar D. and Indjin, Dragan (2025). Liouvillian superoperator and maxwell–bloch dynamics under optical feedback via the self-mixing effect in terahertz quantum cascade lasers. Photonics, 12 (11) 1134, 1-22. doi: 10.3390/photonics12111134

Liouvillian superoperator and maxwell–bloch dynamics under optical feedback via the self-mixing effect in terahertz quantum cascade lasers

2025

Conference Publication

3D terahertz tomography for in-situ semiconductor chip inspection

Torniainen, J., Bertling, K., Silva, J., Gilliespie, T., Li, L.H., Indjin, D, Davies, A.G., Linfield, E.H., Dean, P. and Rakić, A.D. (2025). 3D terahertz tomography for in-situ semiconductor chip inspection. 50th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Helsinki, Finland, 17-22 August 2025. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/irmmw-thz61557.2025.11319593

3D terahertz tomography for in-situ semiconductor chip inspection

2025

Conference Publication

Terahertz time domain and laser feedback interferometry study of sulfur inclusion in marble

Chanda, Puspita, Bertling, Karl, Aalam, Uzair, Kashyap, Mayuri, Torniainen, Jari, Guo, Xiao, Gillespie, Tim, Indjin, Dragan, Li, Lianhe, Linfield, Edmund H., Davies, A. Giles, Dean, Paul, Bandyopadhyay, Aparajita, Sengupta, Amartya and Rakić, Aleksandar. D. (2025). Terahertz time domain and laser feedback interferometry study of sulfur inclusion in marble. 50th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Helsinki, Finland, 17-22 August 2025. Piscataway, NJ United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/irmmw-thz61557.2025.11319883

Terahertz time domain and laser feedback interferometry study of sulfur inclusion in marble

2025

Conference Publication

Visualizing terahertz-tissue interactions for early skin pathology detection

Torniainen, J., Qi, X., Bertling, K., Kong, F., Gillespie, T., Primiero, C., Stark, M. S., Dean, P., Indjin, D, Li, L. H., Linfield, E. H., Davies, A. G., Brünig, M., Mills, T., Rosendahl, C., Soyer, H. P. and Rakić, A. D. (2025). Visualizing terahertz-tissue interactions for early skin pathology detection. 50th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Helsinki, Finland, 17-22 August 2025. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/irmmw-thz61557.2025.11319771

Visualizing terahertz-tissue interactions for early skin pathology detection

2025

Conference Publication

Near-field optical microscopy for spatially confined nanostructures

Guo, Xiao, Bertling, Karl, Belonohy, Daniella, Zhang, Xueqin, Wang, Zhiyao, Virdis, Bernardino, Mathel, Vincent, Aziz, Shazed, Heitzman, Michael, Vandi, Luigi-Jules, Degnan, Zachary, Steele, Julian A., Jacobson, Peter, Chanda, Puspita, Torniainen, Jari, Donose, Bogdan C., Brünig, Michael and Rakić, Aleksandar D. (2025). Near-field optical microscopy for spatially confined nanostructures. 50th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Helsinki, Finland, 17-22 August 2025. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/irmmw-thz61557.2025.11319789

Near-field optical microscopy for spatially confined nanostructures

2025

Conference Publication

Non-destructive THz techniques for monitoring environmental degradation of marble in iconic structures

Chanda, Puspita, Bertling, Karl, Khatri, Kashika, Aalam, Uzair, Torniainen, Jari, Gillespie, Tim, Indjin, Dragan, Li, Lianhe, Linfield, Edmund, Davies, AG, Dean, Paul, Sengupta, Amartya, Bandyopadhyay, Aparajita and Rakic, Aleksandar D. (2025). Non-destructive THz techniques for monitoring environmental degradation of marble in iconic structures. 2025 Conference on Optics for Arts, Architecture, and Archaeology-O3A, Munich Germany, Jun 23-26, 2025. BELLINGHAM: SPIE. doi: 10.1117/12.3062581

Non-destructive THz techniques for monitoring environmental degradation of marble in iconic structures

2025

Journal Article

2025 Photonics for Agrifood roadmap: towards a sustainable and healthier planet

Smeesters, Lien, Venturini, Francesca, Paulus, Stefan, Mahlein, Anne-Katrin, Perpetuini, David, Cardone, Daniela, Merla, Arcangelo, Gac, Benjamin, Perrin, Stephane, Trégoat, Denis, Poffo, Luiz, Fournier, Antoine, Bonifazi, Giuseppe, Serranti, Silvia, Liao, Wenzhi, Osseiran, Noureddin, Vanwolleghem, Mathias, Peretti, Romain, Bandyopadhyay, Aparajita, Bertling, Karl, Parameswaran, Krishnan, Rakić, Aleksandar D., Sengupta, Amartya, Svanberg, Sune, Kujawinska, Małgorzata, Cozzolino, Daniel, Perez-Marin, Dolores, Entrenas de León, José A., Torres Rodríguez, Irina ... Mignani, Anna Grazia (2025). 2025 Photonics for Agrifood roadmap: towards a sustainable and healthier planet. Journal of Physics: Photonics, 7 (3) 032501, 032501-3. doi: 10.1088/2515-7647/adbea9

2025 Photonics for Agrifood roadmap: towards a sustainable and healthier planet

2025

Journal Article

Wood/PHAs biocomposites with mechanical properties comparable to conventional plastics: model-based prediction and experimental validation

Mathel, Vincent, Aziz, Shazed, Guo, Xiao, Bertling, Karl, Rakić, Aleksandar D., Heitzmann, Michael T. and Vandi, Luigi-Jules (2025). Wood/PHAs biocomposites with mechanical properties comparable to conventional plastics: model-based prediction and experimental validation. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 194 108916, 108916. doi: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.108916

Wood/PHAs biocomposites with mechanical properties comparable to conventional plastics: model-based prediction and experimental validation

2025

Journal Article

Subwavelength 3D terahertz imaging with a single-pixel laser transceiver

Silva, Jorge, Plöschner, Martin, Bertling, Karl, Ghantala, Mukund, Gillespie, Tim, Torniainen, Jari, Herbert, Jeremy, Lim, Yah Leng, Taimre, Thomas, Qi, Xiaoqiong, Donose, Bogdan C., Zhou, Tao, Lui, Hoi-Shun, Indjin, Dragan, Han, Yingjun, Li, Lianhe, Valavanis, Alexander, Linfield, Edmund H., Davies, A. Giles, Dean, Paul and Rakić, Aleksandar D. (2025). Subwavelength 3D terahertz imaging with a single-pixel laser transceiver. Optics Express, 33 (10), 21938-21950. doi: 10.1364/oe.561713

Subwavelength 3D terahertz imaging with a single-pixel laser transceiver

2025

Journal Article

Shaping terahertz harmonic frequency combs with frequency-dependent external reflectors

Silvestri, Carlo, Qi, Xiaoqiong, Taimre, Thomas and Rakić, Aleksandar D. (2025). Shaping terahertz harmonic frequency combs with frequency-dependent external reflectors. Physical Review A, 111 (4) 043522, 4. doi: 10.1103/physreva.111.043522

Shaping terahertz harmonic frequency combs with frequency-dependent external reflectors

2025

Conference Publication

Optimizing resistor selection and matching for desired resistance

Rakić, Aleksandar, Pavlović, Dragan and Ponjavić, Milan (2025). Optimizing resistor selection and matching for desired resistance. 24th International Symposium INFOTEH-JAHORINA (INFOTEH), East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 19-21 March 2025. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/infoteh64129.2025.10959283

Optimizing resistor selection and matching for desired resistance

2025

Conference Publication

Comparison of IMC and cross-coupling decoupling current regulation structures in PMSM drives

Mrđen, Emilija, Matić, Petar and Rakić, Aleksandar (2025). Comparison of IMC and cross-coupling decoupling current regulation structures in PMSM drives. 24th International Symposium INFOTEH-JAHORINA (INFOTEH), East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 19-21 March 2025. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/infoteh64129.2025.10959266

Comparison of IMC and cross-coupling decoupling current regulation structures in PMSM drives

2025

Conference Publication

Terahertz frequency combs in quantum cascade lasers with frequency dependent feedback

Silvestri, Carlo, Qi, Xiaoqiong, Taimre, Thomas, Torniainen, Jari, Chanda, Puspita and Rakić, Aleksandar D. (2025). Terahertz frequency combs in quantum cascade lasers with frequency dependent feedback. IEEE Computer Society. doi: 10.1109/IRMMW-THz61557.2025.11319685

Terahertz frequency combs in quantum cascade lasers with frequency dependent feedback

2024

Conference Publication

Terahertz Laser Feedback Imaging of Marble Cultural Heritage Structures

Bertling, Karl, Torniainen, Jari, Guo, Xiao, Bandyopadhyay, Aparajita, Chanda, Puspita, Sengupta, Amartya, Dean, Paul, Li, Lianhe, Indjin, Dragan, Davies, A. Giles, Linfield, Edmund H. and Rakić, Aleksandar D. (2024). Terahertz Laser Feedback Imaging of Marble Cultural Heritage Structures. 2024 Conference on Optoelectronic and Microelectronic Materials and Devices, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 2-5 December 2024.

Terahertz Laser Feedback Imaging of Marble Cultural Heritage Structures

2024

Conference Publication

Attocube Near-field Optical Nanoscopy Workshop --- Terahertz nanoscopy: advances, challenges, and the road ahead

Guo, Xiao, Bertling, Karl, Donose, Bogdan C., Brünig, Michael, Cernescu, Adrian, Govyadinov, Alexander A. and Rakić, Aleksandar D. (2024). Attocube Near-field Optical Nanoscopy Workshop --- Terahertz nanoscopy: advances, challenges, and the road ahead. 17th International Conference on Near-field Optics, Nanophotonics, and Related Techniques, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 2-6 December 2024.

Attocube Near-field Optical Nanoscopy Workshop --- Terahertz nanoscopy: advances, challenges, and the road ahead

2024

Conference Publication

Terahertz scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy of collective excitations for quantum technologies

Guo, Xiao, He, Xin, Degnan, Zachary, Chiu, Chun-Ching, Bertling, Karl, Donose, Bogdan, Steele, Julian A,, Solano, Eduardo, Brünig, Michael, Fedorov, Arkady, Jacobson, Peter and Rakić, Aleksandar D. (2024). Terahertz scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy of collective excitations for quantum technologies. 17th International Conference on Near-field Optics, Nanophotonics, and Related Techniques, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 2-6 December 2024.

Terahertz scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy of collective excitations for quantum technologies

2024

Journal Article

A novel tape-free sample preparation method for human osteochondral cryosections for high throughput hyperspectral imaging

Fan, Xiwei, Donose, Bogdan, Jones, Michael W M, Howard, Daryl, Torniainen, Jari, Bertling, Karl, Guo, Xiao, Kewish, Cameron M, Lee, Kah Meng, Sun, Antonia Rujia, Rakic, Aleksandar, Crawford, Ross, Afara, Isaac O. and Prasadam, Indira (2024). A novel tape-free sample preparation method for human osteochondral cryosections for high throughput hyperspectral imaging. Histochemistry and Cell Biology, 163 (1) 16, 16. doi: 10.1007/s00418-024-02338-1

A novel tape-free sample preparation method for human osteochondral cryosections for high throughput hyperspectral imaging

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2029
    Terahertz technology for cultural heritage testing: a Taj Mahal case study
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2026
    Terahertz virtual skin biopsy: Quantum cascade laser imaging of early melanoma
    Australia's Economic Accelerator Ignite Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Terahertz Quantum Technology for Melanoma Detection and Progression
    Critical Technologies Challenge Program: Feasibility
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Interaction of light with tissues: A hyper-spectral approach
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Engineering the Next Generation of Broadband Terahertz Technologies
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Next generation lasers for short-reach optical fibre communication
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Multimode optical waveguide characterisation facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Imaging in the nano-scale age: terahertz and millimetre wave microanalysis
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    High bandwidth, high speed, terahertz optical sampling and analysis system (ARC LIEF project administered by University of Wollongong)
    University of Wollongong
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Advanced Pulsed Power: an emerging technology for science and engineering systems
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Engineering the Next Generation of Terahertz Laser Imaging Systems
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Millimetre Waves for Imaging and Sensing
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2020
    Engineering Solutions to Skin Cancer Research
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Advanced Superfluid Physics Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Facility for fabrication and characterisation of micro/nano-optoelectronic devices
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Self-mixing sensors based on terahertz quantum cascade lasers: a new technology for tissue characterisation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Microwave frequency measurements
    Boeing Defence Australia Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Biomedical Applications of Self-Mixing Sensors based on Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser Arrays
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    DC & RF characterisation and parameter extraction of the kink effect in silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) MOSFET's for device and circuit modelling
    Peregrine Semiconductor Australia Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2006
    National Nanolithography Facility
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Reconfigurable optical interconnection network for ultrahigh-speed computing systems
    University of Queensland Small Grants Scheme
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Aleksandar Rakic is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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