Nonlinear Phenomena in RF Plasmas for Materials Processing Applications. This coordinated and experimental and theoretical proposal focuses on the investigation of the nonlinear phenomena in radio frequency plasma discharges suitable for material processing applications. The effect of time-varying and steady-state nonlinear plasma responses on the electromagnetic fields and the working parameters of the low-frequency inductively coupled plasmas will be investigated theoretically and experimenta ....Nonlinear Phenomena in RF Plasmas for Materials Processing Applications. This coordinated and experimental and theoretical proposal focuses on the investigation of the nonlinear phenomena in radio frequency plasma discharges suitable for material processing applications. The effect of time-varying and steady-state nonlinear plasma responses on the electromagnetic fields and the working parameters of the low-frequency inductively coupled plasmas will be investigated theoretically and experimentally. The expected outcome of the project will be used for optimizing the performance and stability of the low frequency inductively coupled plasma devices.Read moreRead less
Guaranteeing the safety of short welds in automotive applications. Most safety-critical welds in the automotive and related industries are of short duration (less than three seconds). We will develop a unified theoretical model of short welds which accounts for all important phenomena. Using this model, we will create the first system to check every safety-critical weld in real time, with 3D data objects that use all the data available from the non-stationary process. The outcomes will be a comp ....Guaranteeing the safety of short welds in automotive applications. Most safety-critical welds in the automotive and related industries are of short duration (less than three seconds). We will develop a unified theoretical model of short welds which accounts for all important phenomena. Using this model, we will create the first system to check every safety-critical weld in real time, with 3D data objects that use all the data available from the non-stationary process. The outcomes will be a comprehensive understanding of short welds, which will be an essential step towards the development of more reliable welding procedures, and a weld fault monitor ready for industrial application.Read moreRead less
Deterministic plasma-aided nanoassembly: from elementary processes to industry-grade nano- and biomaterials. This collaborative project aims to develop new approaches for the improved plasma-based synthesis of selected nano- and biomaterials that will comply with the relevant industry standards. It is based on extensive international research networking and will ultimately lead to a major breakthrough in highly-controlled plasma-aided synthesis of advanced functional materials and devices. The p ....Deterministic plasma-aided nanoassembly: from elementary processes to industry-grade nano- and biomaterials. This collaborative project aims to develop new approaches for the improved plasma-based synthesis of selected nano- and biomaterials that will comply with the relevant industry standards. It is based on extensive international research networking and will ultimately lead to a major breakthrough in highly-controlled plasma-aided synthesis of advanced functional materials and devices. The project outcomes will attract the interest of established and emerging industries in Australia, Singapore and other countries, and will be useful for the development of small high-tech companies in Australia. This project is ideally suited for training of early-career postdoctoral researchers and research students of competitive international standing.Read moreRead less
Plasma Astrophysics under Extreme Conditions. A new branch of theoretical physics, quantum plasmadynamics (QPD), will be applied to plasmas under extreme conditions of magnetic field and density, to plasma-neutrino effects and nonlinear radiation.
Magnetic energy dissipation in solar flares will be attributed to a large number of coupled, local, transient, anomalously resistive regions excited by current filamentation. The model will include nonlocal energy release at Alfvenic fronts, 3D reconn ....Plasma Astrophysics under Extreme Conditions. A new branch of theoretical physics, quantum plasmadynamics (QPD), will be applied to plasmas under extreme conditions of magnetic field and density, to plasma-neutrino effects and nonlinear radiation.
Magnetic energy dissipation in solar flares will be attributed to a large number of coupled, local, transient, anomalously resistive regions excited by current filamentation. The model will include nonlocal energy release at Alfvenic fronts, 3D reconnection at magnetic nulls, and bulk energization of electrons.
`Coherence? in sources of coherent emission will be quantified and a model for its interpretation for highly intermittent wave growth will be formulated.Read moreRead less
Quantum plasmas. Quantum effects become important under extreme conditions, and a newly developing field of "quantum plasmas" is motivated by two different extremes for ionized systems. One is in very small electronic devises, where electrons carrying the currents become wave-like with a wavelength comparable with the size of the device. The other is in the extremely intense optical light spots now available by focusing high-power lasers. In this project we propose to take a leading role in the ....Quantum plasmas. Quantum effects become important under extreme conditions, and a newly developing field of "quantum plasmas" is motivated by two different extremes for ionized systems. One is in very small electronic devises, where electrons carrying the currents become wave-like with a wavelength comparable with the size of the device. The other is in the extremely intense optical light spots now available by focusing high-power lasers. In this project we propose to take a leading role in the development of this emerging field by applying a recently completed general theory to it. Read moreRead less
Design and synthesis of transparent conducting metal oxides. With advances in solar cell and flexible display technologies the demand and performance requirements for transparent conductors used as electrodes in these devices will increase dramatically. This research program is focused on developing new materials to meet the demand and the challenges of new, more advanced technologies. The project has the potential to generate valuable intellectual property in the form of new generation transpar ....Design and synthesis of transparent conducting metal oxides. With advances in solar cell and flexible display technologies the demand and performance requirements for transparent conductors used as electrodes in these devices will increase dramatically. This research program is focused on developing new materials to meet the demand and the challenges of new, more advanced technologies. The project has the potential to generate valuable intellectual property in the form of new generation transparent conducting oxide materials for a rapidly growing set of applications. The new devices will directly improve our standard of living and additional economic benefits will come from commercialisation of the technology both here and overseas.Read moreRead less
Development of Cathodic Arc Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PIII) for biomaterials applications. Medical prostheses have intricate geometries, consisting of shapes such as screws, holes, wedges, cones and textured surfaces. Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation using metal or carbon ions produced by a cathodic arc has been found to be an excellent process for producing surface modification with the properties required in medical applications, such as low stress and excellent adhesion of very thic ....Development of Cathodic Arc Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PIII) for biomaterials applications. Medical prostheses have intricate geometries, consisting of shapes such as screws, holes, wedges, cones and textured surfaces. Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation using metal or carbon ions produced by a cathodic arc has been found to be an excellent process for producing surface modification with the properties required in medical applications, such as low stress and excellent adhesion of very thick coatings. To date this process has only been applied to simple, flat substrates. Extending it to shapes of interest for biomaterials applications will require comprehensive understanding and control of the sheath dynamics, which our combined theoretical and experimental approach will provide.Read moreRead less
Physics of Self-Organization: From Space Plasmas to Brain Dynamics. Nature displays intricate, self-organized structures and behaviors that often emerge from simple underlying rules. This project will explore and unify fundamental regimes of self-organization, and apply them to explain phenomena in space, plasma, and wave physics, including making key inputs to the international STEREO space mission. In a core initiative, sophisticated tools from these fields will be transfered and adapted to a ....Physics of Self-Organization: From Space Plasmas to Brain Dynamics. Nature displays intricate, self-organized structures and behaviors that often emerge from simple underlying rules. This project will explore and unify fundamental regimes of self-organization, and apply them to explain phenomena in space, plasma, and wave physics, including making key inputs to the international STEREO space mission. In a core initiative, sophisticated tools from these fields will be transfered and adapted to analyze self-organized brain dynamics, leading to the first self-consistent "working brain" model. The results of this innovation will be used to develop new imaging technologies, to probe brain function via the new windows they open, and to exploit them commercially.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453732
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$726,164.00
Summary
Interactive network for plasma and surface analysis. Plasma-based materials synthesis and surface modification methods have great value because they allow a wide range of ion energies and processing conditions to be achieved. Accurate in-situ measurement of the plasma conditions is crucial to the development of reliable new processes. This proposal will establish unique capabilities for carrying out diagnostic studies of plasma surface treatment technologies. The proposal will link Australia's m ....Interactive network for plasma and surface analysis. Plasma-based materials synthesis and surface modification methods have great value because they allow a wide range of ion energies and processing conditions to be achieved. Accurate in-situ measurement of the plasma conditions is crucial to the development of reliable new processes. This proposal will establish unique capabilities for carrying out diagnostic studies of plasma surface treatment technologies. The proposal will link Australia's most advanced plasma processing and diagnostic equipment located at the University of Sydney and the ANU to advanced materials and surface analysis facilities at La Trobe and RMIT Universities in Melbourne, using interactive e-science links and vacuum sample-transfer facilities.Read moreRead less
Solar radio bursts, the origin and properties of the sun's corona and solar wind, and space weather. This project uses solar radio bursts to answer fundamental scientific questions about the Sun, predict space weather events at Earth, and motivate theories for the bursts and shocks. It will discover the corona's origin and where the solar wind is accelerated, understand how shocks reform and accelerate particles, and develop quantitative theories for radio bursts. These discoveries and associate ....Solar radio bursts, the origin and properties of the sun's corona and solar wind, and space weather. This project uses solar radio bursts to answer fundamental scientific questions about the Sun, predict space weather events at Earth, and motivate theories for the bursts and shocks. It will discover the corona's origin and where the solar wind is accelerated, understand how shocks reform and accelerate particles, and develop quantitative theories for radio bursts. These discoveries and associated high-level training of staff and students will increase Australia's international scientific standing, expertise, infrastructure, and human capital. It involves international collaborations on NASA's $600M STEREO mission and the MWA radio telescope, among others, and supports the new Decadal Plan for Australian Space Science.Read moreRead less