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
Atomic Ionization on the Attosecond Time Scale. Electrons emit light, carry electric current, and bind atoms together to form molecules. Insight into their atomic-scale motion is the key to understanding the functioning of biological systems, developing efficient sources of x-ray light, and speeding up electronics. Capturing this electron motion requires attosecond (one quintillionth of a second) time resolution. Our research aims to understand and accurately model fundamental atomic processes ....Atomic Ionization on the Attosecond Time Scale. Electrons emit light, carry electric current, and bind atoms together to form molecules. Insight into their atomic-scale motion is the key to understanding the functioning of biological systems, developing efficient sources of x-ray light, and speeding up electronics. Capturing this electron motion requires attosecond (one quintillionth of a second) time resolution. Our research aims to understand and accurately model fundamental atomic processes taking place on the attosecond time scale. This research project will further enhance our reputation in an area where Australian theorists are preeminent, and the research training will produce PhD graduates with the skills essential in a multitude of nano-technology applications. Read moreRead less
CCC method: new applications to electron scattering from atoms and molecules. Achievement of the stated aims will be of enormous benefit to industry
and laboratory research because at the present time no reliably accurate
models exist for the range of the required scattering parameters. The
modelling work will result in development of new software packages for
supercomputers and will provide training for research associates, PhD
and Honours students in an area where Australian theorists are ....CCC method: new applications to electron scattering from atoms and molecules. Achievement of the stated aims will be of enormous benefit to industry
and laboratory research because at the present time no reliably accurate
models exist for the range of the required scattering parameters. The
modelling work will result in development of new software packages for
supercomputers and will provide training for research associates, PhD
and Honours students in an area where Australian theorists are
preeminent.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238631
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Ultra High Resolution Electron Recycling Spectrometer. Electron collisions with atoms and molecules provide enormous versatility through the transfer of large amounts of angular momentum and the ability to excite dipole forbidden states. However a lack of energy resolution severely restricts the processes that can be studied.
We propose to construct a unique, ultra-high resolution, electron recycling spectrometer using a radical new design. State-of-the-art spectroscopic studies of ato ....Ultra High Resolution Electron Recycling Spectrometer. Electron collisions with atoms and molecules provide enormous versatility through the transfer of large amounts of angular momentum and the ability to excite dipole forbidden states. However a lack of energy resolution severely restricts the processes that can be studied.
We propose to construct a unique, ultra-high resolution, electron recycling spectrometer using a radical new design. State-of-the-art spectroscopic studies of atoms and molecules will be enabled, including the dynamics of near-threshold processes, the formation of transient states and the examination of processes such as rotational excitation and dissociative attachment in molecules - important in a number of gas-discharge based devices.
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A complete computational approach to electron-atom collisions. Our research contributes to multidisciplinary efforts to improve the efficiency and reduce the toxicity of lighting systems, which has far-reaching implications for environmental sustainability. It will also facilitate significant improvements in the accuracy of astrophysical and artificial plasma modelling, as well as providing insight into many processes fundamental to nanotechnology research. The research project will further enha ....A complete computational approach to electron-atom collisions. Our research contributes to multidisciplinary efforts to improve the efficiency and reduce the toxicity of lighting systems, which has far-reaching implications for environmental sustainability. It will also facilitate significant improvements in the accuracy of astrophysical and artificial plasma modelling, as well as providing insight into many processes fundamental to nanotechnology research. The research project will further enhance our reputation in an area where Australian theorists are preeminent, and the research training will produce PhD graduates with a high-level ability in numerical modelling using supercomputers. Such skills are essential in many defense, mining and technological applications of national priority.Read moreRead less
Electronic and atomic collision theory. Recently there has been rapid progress in the field of electronic and atomic collisions. Consequently, many new problems have emerged of interest to science and industry. The proposed collaboration will determine the most promising theoretical techniques for their solution. The problems include, for example, electron
collisions with noble gases, cesium and mercury, of interest to the laser, lighting and plasma processing industries. Time-dependent and tim ....Electronic and atomic collision theory. Recently there has been rapid progress in the field of electronic and atomic collisions. Consequently, many new problems have emerged of interest to science and industry. The proposed collaboration will determine the most promising theoretical techniques for their solution. The problems include, for example, electron
collisions with noble gases, cesium and mercury, of interest to the laser, lighting and plasma processing industries. Time-dependent and time independent, relativistic and non-relativistic approaches will be considered, thereby determining the direction of the field for the foreseeable future.Read moreRead less
Atomic Collision Theory. Collisions between atomic particles are ever-present in astrophysical and man-made plasmas. Their understanding is vital for both fundamental science and industrial applications. The project will develop underlying scattering theory to solve new and outstanding problems in the field. These range from the fundamental problems of electron- or proton-impact ionisation of hydrogen through to collisions involving targets of interest to astrophysics, fusion, X-ray lasers and t ....Atomic Collision Theory. Collisions between atomic particles are ever-present in astrophysical and man-made plasmas. Their understanding is vital for both fundamental science and industrial applications. The project will develop underlying scattering theory to solve new and outstanding problems in the field. These range from the fundamental problems of electron- or proton-impact ionisation of hydrogen through to collisions involving targets of interest to astrophysics, fusion, X-ray lasers and the lighting industry. The theory will also be extended to atom-surface interactions. The understanding of collisions between atomic particles and surfaces will support emerging fields of nanoscience and quantum computing.
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Complete calculation of positron- and electron-impact scattering of atoms. This research will facilitate a deeper understanding of the interaction of positrons (antimatter) with matter. These interactions are fundamental to Positron Emission Tomography used for medical imaging and Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy used for characterisation of materials. This project will provide a fundamental theoretical description of positronium formation that combined with other multidisciplinary re ....Complete calculation of positron- and electron-impact scattering of atoms. This research will facilitate a deeper understanding of the interaction of positrons (antimatter) with matter. These interactions are fundamental to Positron Emission Tomography used for medical imaging and Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy used for characterisation of materials. This project will provide a fundamental theoretical description of positronium formation that combined with other multidisciplinary research within the ARC Centre of Antimatter-Matter Studies will improve our knowledge of, and efficacy, of these techniques.Read moreRead less