Optical and matter-wave vortices in nonlinear and inhomogeneous media. Wave phenomena of diverse nature have a strikingly similar feature of vorticity, with the energy or matter spiralling around isolated phase singularities. This project targets the fundamental theoretical research in an interdisciplinary field of singular waves transporting vortices in nonlinear and inhomogeneous media. Our project will contribute to the designated priority area "Frontier Technologies for Building and Transfor ....Optical and matter-wave vortices in nonlinear and inhomogeneous media. Wave phenomena of diverse nature have a strikingly similar feature of vorticity, with the energy or matter spiralling around isolated phase singularities. This project targets the fundamental theoretical research in an interdisciplinary field of singular waves transporting vortices in nonlinear and inhomogeneous media. Our project will contribute to the designated priority area "Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries" by providing fundamental understanding of novel physical phenomena and underpinning technological advances in the fields of photonics, atom, and electron optics, where Australia has built strong expertise and plays a significant role in the international development.Read moreRead less
Organic superconductors and frustrated antiferromagnets: from quantum chemistry to quantum many-body theory to experiment. Aims. To obtain an understanding of how quantum physics and the
interactions between electrons determine the unusual properties of
organic superconductors and frustrated antiferromagnets.
Significance. The project brings together investigators who are
each world leaders in their respective areas of expertise.
Expected outcomes. Answers will be obtained to fundamenta ....Organic superconductors and frustrated antiferromagnets: from quantum chemistry to quantum many-body theory to experiment. Aims. To obtain an understanding of how quantum physics and the
interactions between electrons determine the unusual properties of
organic superconductors and frustrated antiferromagnets.
Significance. The project brings together investigators who are
each world leaders in their respective areas of expertise.
Expected outcomes. Answers will be obtained to fundamental questions about how the quantum
properties of individual molecules combine to determine the
macroscopic properties of new states of matter.Read moreRead less
Spin tunnelling transport and quantum effects in magnetic nanostructures. A new field of "spintronics" takes advantage of the spin of electrons and revolutionises electronics leading to quantum devices. By understanding the behaviour of electron spin in materials we can learn new fundamentals in solid-state physics that will lead to a new generation of electronic, optoelectronic and magneto-electronic devices. The aim of this project is to study the spin tunnelling transport and noise, and relat ....Spin tunnelling transport and quantum effects in magnetic nanostructures. A new field of "spintronics" takes advantage of the spin of electrons and revolutionises electronics leading to quantum devices. By understanding the behaviour of electron spin in materials we can learn new fundamentals in solid-state physics that will lead to a new generation of electronic, optoelectronic and magneto-electronic devices. The aim of this project is to study the spin tunnelling transport and noise, and related quantum effects in various magnetic nanostructures, such as ferromagnet/semiconductor/ferromagnet junctions, using quantum statistics approsches. The outcome of the project is of considerable relevance to the researches of nanostructure and quantum information/computation in Australia.Read moreRead less
Multiple atomic photoionization in superstrong electromagnetic field. Correlation, or entanglement, of electrons in matter governs many important phenomena in nature, such as chemical reactions, superconductivity and ferromagnetism. However, it is the many-electron processes in atoms which allow the study of electron correlations most clearly. In this project we will investigate such a process of two-electron atomic photoionization by an intense laser pulse. We will combine advanced theoretical ....Multiple atomic photoionization in superstrong electromagnetic field. Correlation, or entanglement, of electrons in matter governs many important phenomena in nature, such as chemical reactions, superconductivity and ferromagnetism. However, it is the many-electron processes in atoms which allow the study of electron correlations most clearly. In this project we will investigate such a process of two-electron atomic photoionization by an intense laser pulse. We will combine advanced theoretical and experimental tools with the aim of understanding how the electron correlation interplays with the superstrong electromagnetic field. This will provide insight into fundamental processes of interaction of intense laser pulses with matter which are important in a wide range of applications.Read moreRead less
Slow-light photonics. This project will introduce and demonstrate novel concepts for the manipulation of optical signals in ultra-compact photonics devices, making an essential step towards fast all-optical switching and processing of data streams. These developments underpin the next generation of high-performance networks, promising to revolutionize global communications. This project will keep Australia at the forefront of international research and provide training of students on breakthroug ....Slow-light photonics. This project will introduce and demonstrate novel concepts for the manipulation of optical signals in ultra-compact photonics devices, making an essential step towards fast all-optical switching and processing of data streams. These developments underpin the next generation of high-performance networks, promising to revolutionize global communications. This project will keep Australia at the forefront of international research and provide training of students on breakthrough applications of photonics and nanotechnology, contributing to the uptake of frontier technologies by Australian industries for successful operation in a competitive global environment.Read moreRead less
Developing the Helium Atom Pinhole Camera. The tantalising possibility of an optical instrument that uses neutral atom beams to image surfaces, rather than light or electrons, has been a grand challenge in Physics ever since de Broglie first postulated the existence of matter waves . This project seeks to realise this seminal goal using an elegantly simple design based on the concept of a pin hole camera. The successful development of this world-first instrument would represent a significant adv ....Developing the Helium Atom Pinhole Camera. The tantalising possibility of an optical instrument that uses neutral atom beams to image surfaces, rather than light or electrons, has been a grand challenge in Physics ever since de Broglie first postulated the existence of matter waves . This project seeks to realise this seminal goal using an elegantly simple design based on the concept of a pin hole camera. The successful development of this world-first instrument would represent a significant advance in helium atom microscopy and would significantly enhance the reputation of Australian science. Moreover, this project strengthens and supports a key collaboration between the Universities of Newcastle and Cambridge and is at the core of this emerging technology.Read moreRead less
Fermionic superfluidity in lower dimensional quantum gases. This project seeks to carry out cutting edge research on fermionic superfluidity using ultracold quantum gases. Through collaboration with one of the world's leading groups we will investigate the emerging issue of superfluidity in two-dimensional environments. This research will forge strong links with the European community and raise Australia's international profile in this rapidly growing field. Outstanding opportunities for youn ....Fermionic superfluidity in lower dimensional quantum gases. This project seeks to carry out cutting edge research on fermionic superfluidity using ultracold quantum gases. Through collaboration with one of the world's leading groups we will investigate the emerging issue of superfluidity in two-dimensional environments. This research will forge strong links with the European community and raise Australia's international profile in this rapidly growing field. Outstanding opportunities for young Australian scientists will arise through this collaboration and our findings may have implications for future superconducting technologies, based on the remarkable properties of fermionic superfluids.Read moreRead less
Electron Emission from Diamond. Israel is emerging as an international hub of technology with one of the highest rates of R&D in the world. This collaborative project will access one of the world leading experts in diamond science and technology, Professor Alon Hoffman, to exploit the remarkable properties of diamond for a new generation of detectors and devices. Success in this project can lay the groundwork for tapping into the successful record of advanced technologies and venture capital fun ....Electron Emission from Diamond. Israel is emerging as an international hub of technology with one of the highest rates of R&D in the world. This collaborative project will access one of the world leading experts in diamond science and technology, Professor Alon Hoffman, to exploit the remarkable properties of diamond for a new generation of detectors and devices. Success in this project can lay the groundwork for tapping into the successful record of advanced technologies and venture capital funding that abound in Israel today. Read moreRead less
Quantum correlations in ultra-cold Fermi gases. The field of ultra-cold Fermi gases provides a unique opportunity to develop and test theoretical methods for novel experimental environments of exceptional purity and simplicity. This improved understanding will have potential applications in many fields, ranging from the astrophysics of neutron stars to condensed matter systems such as superconductors or nanostructures. Just as importantly, the project will develop linkages with world leading the ....Quantum correlations in ultra-cold Fermi gases. The field of ultra-cold Fermi gases provides a unique opportunity to develop and test theoretical methods for novel experimental environments of exceptional purity and simplicity. This improved understanding will have potential applications in many fields, ranging from the astrophysics of neutron stars to condensed matter systems such as superconductors or nanostructures. Just as importantly, the project will develop linkages with world leading theoretical groups, which will greatly aid research student education. There are direct applications to experiments on molecule formation with ultra-cold fermions in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics.Read moreRead less
Preparation and analysis of amorphous GaN thin films. Researchers in New Zealand have developed novel processing techniques to prepare amorphous and partially crystalline gallium nitride thin films with potential application as green-blue-UV opto-electronic devices. However, characterization of the film structure using electron microscopy is essential to understand the relationship between processing conditions and opto-electronic properties. The aim of this project is to draw together specialis ....Preparation and analysis of amorphous GaN thin films. Researchers in New Zealand have developed novel processing techniques to prepare amorphous and partially crystalline gallium nitride thin films with potential application as green-blue-UV opto-electronic devices. However, characterization of the film structure using electron microscopy is essential to understand the relationship between processing conditions and opto-electronic properties. The aim of this project is to draw together specialist expertise and equipment that allows integration of microscopy into the development of these films. Australian researchers will gain access to specialized preparation and testing facilities in New Zealand, whilst researchers from New Zealand will perform structural analysis of these films in Australia.Read moreRead less