Probing the Universe with gravitational waves: from cutting-edge technology to astronomy. The direct detection of Einstein's elusive gravitational waves will not only confirm one of the most important theories in physics, it will unleash a new form of radiation (in addition to electromagnetic) with which to study the Universe. Our participation in this quest continues Australia's role in the vanguard of new astronomy and its exploitation. This proposal will produce scientists highly trained in ....Probing the Universe with gravitational waves: from cutting-edge technology to astronomy. The direct detection of Einstein's elusive gravitational waves will not only confirm one of the most important theories in physics, it will unleash a new form of radiation (in addition to electromagnetic) with which to study the Universe. Our participation in this quest continues Australia's role in the vanguard of new astronomy and its exploitation. This proposal will produce scientists highly trained in areas of national priority, including frontier technologies such as photonics and smart information use through GRID computing. Developing ways to build instruments of almost unimaginable sensitivity fosters innovation leading to spin-offs into other areas of optical sensing - fundamental research resulting in economic benefit.Read moreRead less
Pushing the frontiers of gravitational wave science: from technology to astrophysics. The direct detection of Einstein's elusive gravitational waves will not only confirm one of the most important theories in physics, it will unleash a new form of radiation (in addition to electromagnetic) with which to study the Universe. Our participation in this quest continues Australia's role in the vanguard of new astronomy and its exploitation. This proposal will produce scientists highly trained in ar ....Pushing the frontiers of gravitational wave science: from technology to astrophysics. The direct detection of Einstein's elusive gravitational waves will not only confirm one of the most important theories in physics, it will unleash a new form of radiation (in addition to electromagnetic) with which to study the Universe. Our participation in this quest continues Australia's role in the vanguard of new astronomy and its exploitation. This proposal will produce scientists highly trained in areas of national priority, including frontier technologies such as photonics and smart information use through GRID computing. Developing ways to build instruments of almost unimaginable sensitivity fosters innovation leading to spin-offs into other areas of optical sensing - fundamental research resulting in economic benefit.Read moreRead less
Photochemistry of the Middle Atmospheres of Venus and the Earth. Ongoing changes in the Earth's atmosphere, such as ozone depletion, demonstrate the need to understand the processes that control atmospheric chemistry. The proposed research will improve the fidelity of photochemical models, provide additional insight into the recent evolution of the Venus atmosphere, and examine how atmospheric chemistry and climate change interact(ed) on Venus. This research will improve our understanding of l ....Photochemistry of the Middle Atmospheres of Venus and the Earth. Ongoing changes in the Earth's atmosphere, such as ozone depletion, demonstrate the need to understand the processes that control atmospheric chemistry. The proposed research will improve the fidelity of photochemical models, provide additional insight into the recent evolution of the Venus atmosphere, and examine how atmospheric chemistry and climate change interact(ed) on Venus. This research will improve our understanding of long-standing issues, such as how much water might have been present on Venus in the recent past. The research program will provide an opportunity for Australian science to participate in at least one spacecraft mission to Venus. Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0567380
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$111,380.00
Summary
International data exchange for global gravitational wave astronomy. The aim is to develop software tools to efficiently combine and share large gravitational wave datasets from around the world, leveraging existing data grid and replication technologies (Globus and LDR). This will greatly improve the access of Australian scientists to gravitational wave data, thereby facilitating gravitational wave science in this country.
Early Evolution of the Solar System: A Planetary Perspective. A geochemical study of early solar system materials will be conducted to investigate physical conditions leading to assembly of the terrestrial planets, and the chronology of early geological events that shaped the Earth and Moon. Objects from the solar nebula and samples from the Earth, Moon, Mars, and differentiated asteroids will be studied. This research will contribute toward understanding the astrophysical environment of the inn ....Early Evolution of the Solar System: A Planetary Perspective. A geochemical study of early solar system materials will be conducted to investigate physical conditions leading to assembly of the terrestrial planets, and the chronology of early geological events that shaped the Earth and Moon. Objects from the solar nebula and samples from the Earth, Moon, Mars, and differentiated asteroids will be studied. This research will contribute toward understanding the astrophysical environment of the inner solar system, establish a high-resolution absolute timescale for early geological events, and Identify the population of solid bodies present during the initial stages of planetary development.Read moreRead less
Lithic Astronomy: The age and origin of the elements and their incorporation in the solar nebula. All heavy elements are produced in stars. The signature of nucleosynthesis is the isotopic composition of the elements and thus measurement of isotopic compositions allows nuclear astrophysics to be elucidated in the laboratory. This project will examine the linkages between stellar sites and the material in our solar system through measurement of interstellar grains and other primitive material ob ....Lithic Astronomy: The age and origin of the elements and their incorporation in the solar nebula. All heavy elements are produced in stars. The signature of nucleosynthesis is the isotopic composition of the elements and thus measurement of isotopic compositions allows nuclear astrophysics to be elucidated in the laboratory. This project will examine the linkages between stellar sites and the material in our solar system through measurement of interstellar grains and other primitive material obtained from meteorites. A chronology of processes affecting the solar nebula will be determined through measurement of radionuclides. Th/U measurements in presolar grains could allow a view of galactic chemical evolution billions of years prior to the solar nebula.Read moreRead less
Increasing the science output of future gravitational-wave detectors by implementation of advanced output-optics configurations. This project aims to develop an instrument, a variable reflectivity mirror, which when installed on the next generation of gravitational wave detectors will expand their search capability. Successful development of this mirror will see Australia become only the third country outside of the USA involved in the Advanced LIGO Project procurement and play a major role in t ....Increasing the science output of future gravitational-wave detectors by implementation of advanced output-optics configurations. This project aims to develop an instrument, a variable reflectivity mirror, which when installed on the next generation of gravitational wave detectors will expand their search capability. Successful development of this mirror will see Australia become only the third country outside of the USA involved in the Advanced LIGO Project procurement and play a major role in the first direct detection of gravitational waves, predicted to exist by Einstein ninety years ago. Success in such an area of fundamental research will generate international prestige for Australia and pride in our ability to achieve at the highest level of research.Read moreRead less
Understanding the chemistry and evolution of planets and their atmospheres: Integrating experiments, observations, and quantum mechanical models. Ongoing changes in the Earth's atmosphere, demonstrate the need to understand photochemical processes and their role in atmospheric evolution. The proposed research will increase our understanding of the evolution of planetary atmospheres, with concomitant insight into the Earth's evolution. This proposal will greatly enhance the visibility of Australi ....Understanding the chemistry and evolution of planets and their atmospheres: Integrating experiments, observations, and quantum mechanical models. Ongoing changes in the Earth's atmosphere, demonstrate the need to understand photochemical processes and their role in atmospheric evolution. The proposed research will increase our understanding of the evolution of planetary atmospheres, with concomitant insight into the Earth's evolution. This proposal will greatly enhance the visibility of Australian research, through formal, direct connections to NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) planetary exploration missions, along with publications in Nature, Science, and/or PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) that will likely result from the high-profile problems to be studied. Furthermore, as a result of this collaboration, Australian students and postdoctoral researchers will benefit from interactions with top international scientists.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989093
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,800,000.00
Summary
Australian Partnership in Advanced LIGO. Advanced Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) (AdvLIGO) will be the first gravitational wave observatory capable of frequent observation of known sources of gravitational waves leading to the birth of gravitational wave astronomy. The development of instruments capable of doing this is driving technology in fields such as lasers , optics, photonics and data analysis. By playing a key role in this facility, Australia will reap the scienti ....Australian Partnership in Advanced LIGO. Advanced Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) (AdvLIGO) will be the first gravitational wave observatory capable of frequent observation of known sources of gravitational waves leading to the birth of gravitational wave astronomy. The development of instruments capable of doing this is driving technology in fields such as lasers , optics, photonics and data analysis. By playing a key role in this facility, Australia will reap the scientific and technical rewards of being part of the most exciting frontier of physics in the 21st Century whilst training scientists and technologists for tomorrow.Read moreRead less