Dr Timo Nieminen
Dr

Timo Nieminen

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52422

Background

Dr Timo Nieminen received his PhD from The University of Queensland in 1996.

Dr Nieminen's research interests are in the fields of:

  • Light Scattering
  • Optical Trapping and Micromanipulation
  • Computational Electromagnetics
  • Photonics
  • Biological and Industrial Applications of Light Scattering and the Interaction of Light and Matter

His chief research projects are in the areas of:

  • Full-Wave Electromagnetic Modelling of the Production of Optical Forces and Torques in Laser Trapping
  • Optical Measurement of Microscopic Forces and Torques
  • Extremely Asymmetrical Scattering in Bragg Gratings
  • Micro-Opto-Mechanical Systems (MOMS)

Availability

Dr Timo Nieminen is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Physical Sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Full-Wave Electromagnetic Modelling of the Production of Optical Forces and Torques in Laser Trapping

    Optical forces and torques acting on a microparticle in a laser trap arise from the transfer of momentum and angular momentum from the trapping beam to the particle, and can be found by calculating the scattering of the trapping beam by the particle. Since laser-trapped particles are of sizes comparable to the trapping wavelength, a full electromagnetic wave solution is required.

  • Optical Measurement of Microscopic Forces and Torques

    An alternative to the calculation of the scattering by a laser-trapped particle is to measure the scattered light, and from this, determine the optical force and torque acting on, and the position within the trap, of the particle.

  • Extremely Asymmetrical Scattering in Bragg Gratings

    Extremely asymmetrical scattering is being investigated theoretically and computationally in collaboration with the Physical Optics Program, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology.

  • Micro-Opto-Mechanical Systems (MOMS)

    Theoretical development of MOMS and MOMS-related techniques.

Search Professor Timo Nieminen’s works on UQ eSpace

241 works between 1996 and 2025
All (241) Journal Article (113) Book Chapter (11) Conference Publication (113) Other Outputs (4)

161 - 180 of 241 works

2006

Journal Article

Visualization of Cerenkov radiation and the fields of a moving charge

Pfeifer, RNC and Nieminen, TA (2006). Visualization of Cerenkov radiation and the fields of a moving charge. European Journal Of Physics, 27 (3), 521-529. doi: 10.1088/0143-0807/27/3/006

Visualization of Cerenkov radiation and the fields of a moving charge

2006

Conference Publication

Modelling optical micromachines and birefringent particles

Loke, Vincent L. Y., Nieminen, Timo A., Parkin, Simon J., Branczyk, Agata M., Heckenberg, Norman R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Halina (2006). Modelling optical micromachines and birefringent particles. Photonic Devices and Algorithms for Computing VIII, San Diego, CA, USA, 14 August 2006. Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A.: SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.680455

Modelling optical micromachines and birefringent particles

2006

Conference Publication

Project-based assessment for graduate coursework in physics

Nieminen, T A (2006). Project-based assessment for graduate coursework in physics. Australian Institute of Physics (AIP), Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Queensland, Australia, 3-8 December 2006. Brisbane: Australian Institute of Physics.

Project-based assessment for graduate coursework in physics

2006

Conference Publication

Forces from highly focused laser beams: Modeling, measurement and application to refractive index measurements

Knoener, G., Parkin, S. J., Nieminen, T. A., Heckenberg, N. R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H. (2006). Forces from highly focused laser beams: Modeling, measurement and application to refractive index measurements. Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) National Congress 2006, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australa, 3-8 December 2006. Brisbane, Australia: Australian Institute of Physics.

Forces from highly focused laser beams: Modeling, measurement and application to refractive index measurements

2006

Conference Publication

Towards crystallization using optical tweezers

Singer, Wolfgang, Gibson, Ursula J., Nieminen, Timo A., Heckenberg, Norman R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Halina (2006). Towards crystallization using optical tweezers. Photonics: Design, Technology, and Packaging II, Brisbane, Australia, 12 December 2005. Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A.: SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.651755

Towards crystallization using optical tweezers

2006

Conference Publication

Calculation of optical trapping landscapes

Knoener, Gregor, Nieminen, Timo A., Parkin, Simon J., Heckenberg, Norman R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Halina (2006). Calculation of optical trapping landscapes. SPIE The International Society for Optical Engineering, San Diego California USA, 13-17 August, 2006. United States: S P I E - International Society of Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.680114

Calculation of optical trapping landscapes

2006

Conference Publication

Towards Efficient Modelling of Optical Micromanipulation of Complex Structures

Nieminen, Timo A., Loke, Vincent L. Y., Branczyk, A. M., Heckenberg, N. R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H. (2006). Towards Efficient Modelling of Optical Micromanipulation of Complex Structures. PIERS 2006: Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium 2006, Cambridge, MA, U.S.A., 26-29 March 2006. Cambridge, Mass, USA: Electromagnetics Academy. doi: 10.2529/PIERS050907030155

Towards Efficient Modelling of Optical Micromanipulation of Complex Structures

2006

Conference Publication

Modelling optical micro-machines

Loke, Vincent L. Y., Nieminen, Timo A., Branczyk, Agata M., Heckenberg, Norman R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Halina (2006). Modelling optical micro-machines. 9th International Conference on Electromagnetic and Light Scattering by Non-Spherical Particles: Theory, Measurements, and Applications, St. Petersburg, Russia, 5-9 June 2006. St Petersburg, Russia: St Petersburg State University Press.

Modelling optical micro-machines

2006

Conference Publication

Torque transfer in optical tweezers due to orbital angular momentum

Parkin, S. J. W., Knoener, G., Nieminen, Timo A., Heckenberg, N. R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H. (2006). Torque transfer in optical tweezers due to orbital angular momentum. SPIE International Society of Optical Engineering, San Diego, CA, U.S.A., 13-17 August 2006. Bellingham, WA, U.S.A.: S P I E - International Society of Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.681402

Torque transfer in optical tweezers due to orbital angular momentum

2006

Conference Publication

Nanotrapping and the thermodynamics of optical tweezers

Singer, W., Nieminen, T. A., Heckenberg, N. R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H. (2006). Nanotrapping and the thermodynamics of optical tweezers. Australian Institute of Physics (AIP), Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Queensland, Australia, 3-8 December 2006. Brisbane: Australian Institute of Physics.

Nanotrapping and the thermodynamics of optical tweezers

2006

Conference Publication

Two-photon polymerization process for optically driven micromachines

Knoener, Gregor, Higuet, Julien, Parkin, Simon, Nieminen, Timo A., Heckenberg, Norman R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Halina (2006). Two-photon polymerization process for optically driven micromachines. Photonics: Design, Technology, and Packaging II, Brisbane, Australia, 12 December 2005. Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A.: SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.651757

Two-photon polymerization process for optically driven micromachines

2006

Journal Article

Resonant coupling between bulk waves and guided modes in a dielectric slab with a thick holographic grating

Mason, D. R., Goodman, S. J., Gramotnev, D. K. and Nieminen, T. A. (2006). Resonant coupling between bulk waves and guided modes in a dielectric slab with a thick holographic grating. Applied Optics, 45 (8), 1804-1811. doi: 10.1364/AO.45.001804

Resonant coupling between bulk waves and guided modes in a dielectric slab with a thick holographic grating

2006

Conference Publication

Aether theories: A physics fairytale re-told

Hajek, K. M. and Nieminen, T. A. (2006). Aether theories: A physics fairytale re-told. Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) 17th National Congress, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland, Australia, 3-8 December 2006. Brisbane, Australia: Australian Institute of Physics.

Aether theories: A physics fairytale re-told

2006

Conference Publication

Optical microrheology of biopolymers

Parkin, Simon, Knoener, Gregor, Nieminen, Timo A., Heckenberg, Norman R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Halina (2006). Optical microrheology of biopolymers. Photonics: Design, Technology, and Packaging II, Brisbane, Australia, 12 December 2005. Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A.: SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.651754

Optical microrheology of biopolymers

2006

Conference Publication

Optical micromanipulation of synthetic macromolecules

Singer, Wolfgang, Nieminen, Timo A., Heckenberg, Norman R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Halina (2006). Optical micromanipulation of synthetic macromolecules. SPIE: The International Society for Optical Engineering: Optics and Photonics, San Diego, California, U.S.A., 13-17 August 2006. United States: S P I E - International Society of Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.680187

Optical micromanipulation of synthetic macromolecules

2006

Conference Publication

Optical trapping of a cube

Branczyk, A. M., Nieminen, T. A., Heckenberg, N. R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H. (2006). Optical trapping of a cube. Australian Institute of Physics (AIP), Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Queensland, Australia, 3-8 December 2006. Brisbane: Australian Institute of Physics.

Optical trapping of a cube

2005

Conference Publication

Catch, move and twist using optical tweezers

Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H., Knoner, G., Parkin, S., Singer, W., Nieminen, T. and Heckenberg, N. (2005). Catch, move and twist using optical tweezers. 229th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Diego, Ca, USA, 13 - 17 March, 2005. Washington, D. C.: American Chemical Society.

Catch, move and twist using optical tweezers

2005

Conference Publication

Improved Social Interaction by Children With Autism by Training of Peers

Choi, Serene H.-J. and Nieminen, Timo A. (2005). Improved Social Interaction by Children With Autism by Training of Peers. Making Meaning: Creating Connections that Value Diversity - Proceedings of the 30th Annual Conference of the Australian Association of Special Education, Brisbane, Australia, 23-25th September, 2005. Brisbane, QLD.: AASE.

Improved Social Interaction by Children With Autism by Training of Peers

2005

Conference Publication

Rotating Optical Tweezers

Singer, W., Nieminen, T. A., Gibson, Ursula J., Heckenberg, N. R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H. (2005). Rotating Optical Tweezers. SPIE The International Society for Optical Engineering, San Jose California USA, 25-26 January, 2005. Bellingham USA: SPIE International Society of Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.590107

Rotating Optical Tweezers

2005

Conference Publication

A Constant Torque Micro-Viscometer

Parkin, Simon J. W., Knoener, Gregor, Nieminen, Timo A., Heckenberg, Norman R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Halina (2005). A Constant Torque Micro-Viscometer. SPIE The International Society for Optical Engineering, San Jose California USA, 25-26 January, 2005. Bellingham, USA: SPIE International Society for Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.590147

A Constant Torque Micro-Viscometer

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2026
    Cell fluid interaction: inside and outside cells
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2018 - 2022
    Probe-free biophysical force and torque measurements with optical tweezers
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Force microscopy with arbitrary optically-trapped probes and application to internal mechanics of cells
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Dynamics of constrained Brownian motion of neuro-secretory vesicles.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2014
    Advanced optical tweezers technologies for biophysical measurements
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    ResTeach 2010 0.2 FTE School of Mathematics and physics
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2009
    Optically-driven micromachines and microtools
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Light scattering in complex mesoscale systems.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    Modelling of Light Scattering by Biological Cells
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2003
    Microsphere resonators: Modes & Coupling
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Timo Nieminen is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Neuroscience

    Principal Advisor

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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