Shedding Light on the Proton Radius Puzzle with Ultracold Helium. This project aims to shed light on an outstanding discrepancy in physics known as the proton radius puzzle, first seen in hydrogen but now being studied in helium. Capitalising on existing international collaboration between experiment and theory to exploit the advantages of ultracold helium, this project aims to determine the isotopic nuclear charge radius difference with unprecedented precision, using our state-of-the-art quantu ....Shedding Light on the Proton Radius Puzzle with Ultracold Helium. This project aims to shed light on an outstanding discrepancy in physics known as the proton radius puzzle, first seen in hydrogen but now being studied in helium. Capitalising on existing international collaboration between experiment and theory to exploit the advantages of ultracold helium, this project aims to determine the isotopic nuclear charge radius difference with unprecedented precision, using our state-of-the-art quantum electrodynamic theory. This will not only answer fundamental questions about helium atomic structure, but may also reveal new physics beyond the current Standard Model. The validation of atomic structure theory should provide benefits in applications including the realisation of more accurate atomic clocks.Read moreRead less
Violation of fundamental symmetries in atoms, molecules and nuclei. This theoretical project aims to predict enhanced effects of parity (P), time reversal (T), CP and Lorentz invariance violation, which may be measured using atomic spectroscopy and nuclear physics methods. This project expects to contribute to search for physics beyond standard model, including standard model extensions predicting axion, dark matter and T,P-violating electric dipole moments. Expected outcomes include predictions ....Violation of fundamental symmetries in atoms, molecules and nuclei. This theoretical project aims to predict enhanced effects of parity (P), time reversal (T), CP and Lorentz invariance violation, which may be measured using atomic spectroscopy and nuclear physics methods. This project expects to contribute to search for physics beyond standard model, including standard model extensions predicting axion, dark matter and T,P-violating electric dipole moments. Expected outcomes include predictions of new enhanced effects in nuclei, atoms and molecules. By-products and benefits include development of high precision computer codes for atomic calculations, which are expected to have numerous applications including photon and electron processes, properties of superheavy elements and atomic clocks.Read moreRead less
Probing new physics with atomic parity violation. This project aims to provide a new level of rigour in tests of the standard model of particle physics at low energies, and to reveal or more tightly constrain new particles or forces. This will involve the development of state-of-the-art atomic theory techniques and collaboration with world-leading experimental groups. The expected outcomes and benefits include a breakthrough in the precision of atomic theory calculations, new insights into nucle ....Probing new physics with atomic parity violation. This project aims to provide a new level of rigour in tests of the standard model of particle physics at low energies, and to reveal or more tightly constrain new particles or forces. This will involve the development of state-of-the-art atomic theory techniques and collaboration with world-leading experimental groups. The expected outcomes and benefits include a breakthrough in the precision of atomic theory calculations, new insights into nuclear magnetic structure, improved determination of fundamental particle physics parameters, stronger ties with the international experimental community, enhancing Australian leadership and expertise, and high-level training of the next generation of scientists.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of multi-component matter waves. The recent observation of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in weakly interacting ultracold gases has opened the door to the field of coherent matter-wave optics. When the BEC is treated within a mean-field approach the equations resemble those for the propagation of light in nonlinear media. The main aim of this project is to bring our broad and deep nonlinear optical expertise to bare on the classical nonlinear dynamics of multi-component BEC like syste ....Dynamics of multi-component matter waves. The recent observation of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in weakly interacting ultracold gases has opened the door to the field of coherent matter-wave optics. When the BEC is treated within a mean-field approach the equations resemble those for the propagation of light in nonlinear media. The main aim of this project is to bring our broad and deep nonlinear optical expertise to bare on the classical nonlinear dynamics of multi-component BEC like systems. The expected outcome is a position of world leadership in the theoretical understanding of the dynamics of atom lasers, mixed atom-molecule BECs, and fragmented BECs in optical lattices.Read moreRead less
Ion-atom collision data for fusion energy, hadron therapy and astrophysics. This project aims to combine experimental and theoretical efforts to generate accurate data required for the development and maintenance of fusion reactors, treatment planning in hadron therapy of cancerous tumours, and modelling astrophysical phenomena. Hadron therapy has been used successfully worldwide for over a decade with Australia’s first such facility, the Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy, currently under construc ....Ion-atom collision data for fusion energy, hadron therapy and astrophysics. This project aims to combine experimental and theoretical efforts to generate accurate data required for the development and maintenance of fusion reactors, treatment planning in hadron therapy of cancerous tumours, and modelling astrophysical phenomena. Hadron therapy has been used successfully worldwide for over a decade with Australia’s first such facility, the Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy, currently under construction. Fusion reactors are a source of abundant green energy. Immense progress is being made in their construction and underlying technology. Currently, there is an urgent demand for accurate data on ion-beam collisions with atoms and molecules for the aforementioned applications. This project intends to meet this demand.Read moreRead less
Electron-molecule collisions in fusion and astrophysical plasmas. This project will apply innovative methods developed in Australia to accurately model electron collisions with diatomic hydrides. It will generate new knowledge of the dynamics underlying fundamental chemical reactions, and bring international scientists together to study the influence of molecules in plasmas more accurately than ever before. Outcomes will include essential diagnostics for fusion reactors, methods for using the Ja ....Electron-molecule collisions in fusion and astrophysical plasmas. This project will apply innovative methods developed in Australia to accurately model electron collisions with diatomic hydrides. It will generate new knowledge of the dynamics underlying fundamental chemical reactions, and bring international scientists together to study the influence of molecules in plasmas more accurately than ever before. Outcomes will include essential diagnostics for fusion reactors, methods for using the James Webb Space Telescope to study astrophysical clouds, and strengthened ties between Australia and the global plasma physics community. The significant benefits will include accelerating the development of fusion technology as an alternative to fossil fuels, and furthering our understanding of stellar evolution.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100176
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,987.00
Summary
Quantum studies of dissociative electron attachment to molecules. The ability to predict the outcomes of molecular collisions is a difficult, yet important, problem with many applications in science and industry. Recent work at Curtin University has led to the first complete solution of the electronic part of the scattering problem for collisions with the hydrogen molecule, a major breakthrough in the field. This project will build on this progress to accurately model the nuclear motion during c ....Quantum studies of dissociative electron attachment to molecules. The ability to predict the outcomes of molecular collisions is a difficult, yet important, problem with many applications in science and industry. Recent work at Curtin University has led to the first complete solution of the electronic part of the scattering problem for collisions with the hydrogen molecule, a major breakthrough in the field. This project will build on this progress to accurately model the nuclear motion during collisions, which will enable the first calculations of molecular dissociation processes without the use of approximations. The data which will be produced is highly sought-after in fusion energy and astrophysics applications.Read moreRead less
Collision Studies with Laser-Cooled Metastable Helium Atoms - Recoil Atom Spectroscopy. This project will provide the first absolute, differential measurements of the scattering of low energy electrons from metastable excited helium atoms. Laser-cooling techniques are used to create a bright, slow helium beam and a unique approach, where the recoiling atoms are detected, is used for the scattering measurements. Such measurements are of critical importance in the assessment of new scattering th ....Collision Studies with Laser-Cooled Metastable Helium Atoms - Recoil Atom Spectroscopy. This project will provide the first absolute, differential measurements of the scattering of low energy electrons from metastable excited helium atoms. Laser-cooling techniques are used to create a bright, slow helium beam and a unique approach, where the recoiling atoms are detected, is used for the scattering measurements. Such measurements are of critical importance in the assessment of new scattering theories for excited states and in understanding the role which excited species play in the behaviour of low temperature gas discharges and thus also on the operation of many important devices and phenomena which are based on discharge technology.Read moreRead less
Ionization and excitation of excited helium atoms. Our ability to improve the performance and reliability of electronic devices based around discharge technology relies upon our ability to model and quantify the energy-exchange processes which drive them. Our research will highlight the nature of highly-excited helium atoms and the way they interact with their environment. The purpose of our work is twofold; firstly to provide stringent tests to theory to enhance our understanding of mechanisms ....Ionization and excitation of excited helium atoms. Our ability to improve the performance and reliability of electronic devices based around discharge technology relies upon our ability to model and quantify the energy-exchange processes which drive them. Our research will highlight the nature of highly-excited helium atoms and the way they interact with their environment. The purpose of our work is twofold; firstly to provide stringent tests to theory to enhance our understanding of mechanisms driving discharge-based devices and secondly, to provide benchmark reaction rates which can be used in the modeling of discharge-based devices to improve their performance.Read moreRead less
Many-body quantum effects in the physics of ultracold atoms. The project will advance the fundamental research in quantum atom optics by exploring the mysterious many-body quantum phenomena in the systems of ultracold atoms. It will therefore contribute into the fundamental knowledge base that underpins future quantum technologies based on manipulating and utilizing the systems of ultracold atoms. The project will also further Australia's international competitive ability in fundamental research ....Many-body quantum effects in the physics of ultracold atoms. The project will advance the fundamental research in quantum atom optics by exploring the mysterious many-body quantum phenomena in the systems of ultracold atoms. It will therefore contribute into the fundamental knowledge base that underpins future quantum technologies based on manipulating and utilizing the systems of ultracold atoms. The project will also further Australia's international competitive ability in fundamental research and strengthen its reputation in the field of quantum atom optics.Read moreRead less