Long range interactions of atoms. Atomic physics is often described as both a basic and enabling discipline and the present project on long range atomic interactions fits within both of those categories. The results of the project will lead to a more thorough understanding of the details of long range atom-atom interactions. This will lead to Australian expertise making a significant contribution in a number of cutting edge areas in atomic and molecular physics.
Application of variational methods in atomic and molecular physics. Atmoic physics is both a basic an enabling science and this project will improve fundamental knowledge about the interactions of electrons and positrons with atoms and molecules. Research will be directly relevant to the activities of the National Positron Beam-Line (located at the Australian National University) which is directed to break-through research in matter-antimatter interactions and materials characterisation.
....Application of variational methods in atomic and molecular physics. Atmoic physics is both a basic an enabling science and this project will improve fundamental knowledge about the interactions of electrons and positrons with atoms and molecules. Research will be directly relevant to the activities of the National Positron Beam-Line (located at the Australian National University) which is directed to break-through research in matter-antimatter interactions and materials characterisation.
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Quantum states of matter: from spin liquids to superconductors. Condensed matter physics has produced the technologies and materials that fuelled the digital and communications revolution. The scientific importance of condensed matter physics is indicated by the fact that ten Nobel prizes have been awarded for work in this field since 1990. This proposal brings together world leading chemists, experimental physicists and theoretical physicists from Australia, USA and UK to work on highly interdi ....Quantum states of matter: from spin liquids to superconductors. Condensed matter physics has produced the technologies and materials that fuelled the digital and communications revolution. The scientific importance of condensed matter physics is indicated by the fact that ten Nobel prizes have been awarded for work in this field since 1990. This proposal brings together world leading chemists, experimental physicists and theoretical physicists from Australia, USA and UK to work on highly interdisciplinary projects designed to discover how quantum mechanics leads to the novel properties of chemically complex materials. Such materials will be of central importance to the technologies of the future such as computer memories and the superconducting magnets in hospital MRI machines.Read moreRead less
Strongly correlated electron models for organic superconductors. In conventional metals such as copper the interactions between the electrons do not qualitively change the behaviour of the material. However, over the last few decades many materials have been discovered whose behaviours are dominated by the interactions between electrons. These 'strongly correlated' materials include technologically important materials used in power distribution, catalysis and plastic display technologies. This p ....Strongly correlated electron models for organic superconductors. In conventional metals such as copper the interactions between the electrons do not qualitively change the behaviour of the material. However, over the last few decades many materials have been discovered whose behaviours are dominated by the interactions between electrons. These 'strongly correlated' materials include technologically important materials used in power distribution, catalysis and plastic display technologies. This project will combine theoretical and experimental methods from chemistry and physics in an effort to explain the novel behaviours seen in certain classes of organic strongly correlated materials. This understanding has the potential to impact future electronic devices and advanced materials.Read moreRead less
Spin-liquids, antiferromagnetism, and superconductivity in organic charge transfer salts: synthesis, neutron scattering and theory. Materials have driven the digital revolution. Understanding and controlling silicon has allowed us to make smaller devices that perform better; an iPhone has more computing power than a PC had ten years ago. For this remarkable trend to continue future devices will need to utilise novel physics and be made from new materials. We will grow crystals of organic molecul ....Spin-liquids, antiferromagnetism, and superconductivity in organic charge transfer salts: synthesis, neutron scattering and theory. Materials have driven the digital revolution. Understanding and controlling silicon has allowed us to make smaller devices that perform better; an iPhone has more computing power than a PC had ten years ago. For this remarkable trend to continue future devices will need to utilise novel physics and be made from new materials. We will grow crystals of organic molecules, whose properties derive from the correlated motion of the electrons in these materials. State-of-the-art 'neutron scattering' experiments will test theories of the way the electrons behave in these materials. We will answer fundamental questions, which is an important first step towards harnessing such effects for future technology.Read moreRead less
Understanding Collisions of Cold Polar Molecules. This project is in a high impact research field and therefore has several immediate and substantial national benefits. First, this project will directly raise the quality of Australian science in ultracold atomic physics, cold polar molecules physics, and quantum chemistry. Second, it will constitute high impact research from an Australian institute which will raise the recognition of the high quality Australian science. Third, it will further ....Understanding Collisions of Cold Polar Molecules. This project is in a high impact research field and therefore has several immediate and substantial national benefits. First, this project will directly raise the quality of Australian science in ultracold atomic physics, cold polar molecules physics, and quantum chemistry. Second, it will constitute high impact research from an Australian institute which will raise the recognition of the high quality Australian science. Third, it will further develop capabilities of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics (ACQAO). Fourth, this work will start high calibre international collaborations, most notably with a world renowned experimental group at Yale University among others.Read moreRead less
Electron and Positron Interactions with Bio-Molecules. This program of research will quantify reaction rates and elucidate reaction pathways for a range of important processes in our bodies involving ionising radiation. It will lead to a greatly improved understanding of positron and electron interactions with biological systems, including DNA and its constituent molecules and, through a better understanding of the underlying fundamental interactions, will lay foundations for improvements in te ....Electron and Positron Interactions with Bio-Molecules. This program of research will quantify reaction rates and elucidate reaction pathways for a range of important processes in our bodies involving ionising radiation. It will lead to a greatly improved understanding of positron and electron interactions with biological systems, including DNA and its constituent molecules and, through a better understanding of the underlying fundamental interactions, will lay foundations for improvements in technologies such as PET imaging. Read moreRead less
Fluctuations in the properties of nonequilibrium fluids and the influence of thermostatting mechanisms. The behaviour of nonequilibrium fluids will be studied by combining ideas from liquid state theory, statistical mechanics and dynamical systems theory. This work will result in development and testing of mathematical expressions (Fluctuation Theorems) that are consistent with the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which determines the direction of any change in any macroscopic system, but are also ....Fluctuations in the properties of nonequilibrium fluids and the influence of thermostatting mechanisms. The behaviour of nonequilibrium fluids will be studied by combining ideas from liquid state theory, statistical mechanics and dynamical systems theory. This work will result in development and testing of mathematical expressions (Fluctuation Theorems) that are consistent with the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which determines the direction of any change in any macroscopic system, but are also applicable to microscopic systems. The expressions will determine the probability that finite sized systems will violate the Second Law for small periods of time and will therefore contribute to development of a fundamental understanding of microscopic systems and the development of nanotechnology.
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Fluid properties and chaotic dynamics in equilibrium and nonequilibrium states. Over the last decade a revolution has been taking place in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics [Physics Today, Sept, 2002]. This revolution is characterized by adapting the mathematical theory of chaos to nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. Fundamental new theorems and algorithms for computing transport coefficients have been derived. The CIs have played a key role in this revolution. We seek to broaden these dev ....Fluid properties and chaotic dynamics in equilibrium and nonequilibrium states. Over the last decade a revolution has been taking place in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics [Physics Today, Sept, 2002]. This revolution is characterized by adapting the mathematical theory of chaos to nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. Fundamental new theorems and algorithms for computing transport coefficients have been derived. The CIs have played a key role in this revolution. We seek to broaden these developments by: generalizing a theorem which relates transport coefficients to chaoticity; detailed studies of the influence of thermostatting mechanisms on nonequilibrium chaoticity and fluctuations, and by understanding the range of applicability of a nonequilibrium fluctuation theorem for non-isoenergetic systems.Read moreRead less
Understanding cohesive forces in nanosystems. This theory project will provide basic scientific and modelling/computational support for a number of emerging technologies such as clean energy, and advanced materials and textiles (both CSIRO research areas). Other possible application areas are assembly of arrays of nanotube-based mechanical or electronic devices (e.g. single electron transistor arrays for quantum computer readout), and medical imaging and drug delivery via nano-sized magnetic pa ....Understanding cohesive forces in nanosystems. This theory project will provide basic scientific and modelling/computational support for a number of emerging technologies such as clean energy, and advanced materials and textiles (both CSIRO research areas). Other possible application areas are assembly of arrays of nanotube-based mechanical or electronic devices (e.g. single electron transistor arrays for quantum computer readout), and medical imaging and drug delivery via nano-sized magnetic particles. This last application is a strong growth area worldwide, with several Australian groups already participating. The project will train postgraduate students and a postdoctoral researcher. It will connect Australian scientists with a European Network of Excellence.Read moreRead less