The origin and evolution of heavy elements in the early universe. Everything in our Solar System, including all life on Earth, was created long ago out of material forged inside fiery stellar furnaces. The latest theoretical simulations of element production in red giant stars reveals the processes that gave us our existence, as well as help us to understand the origin of the galaxy that we inhabit.
Modelling the chemical enrichment of the Milky Way. This project aims to understand the chemical and dynamical evolution of the Milky Way Galaxy from its birth to the present. Astrophysicists try to understand the production of the elements over cosmic time, using telescopes and satellites costing billions of dollars. This project will calculate the evolutionary history and detailed nuclear processes in stars of all masses and compositions. When coupled with dynamical models for stars in the Mil ....Modelling the chemical enrichment of the Milky Way. This project aims to understand the chemical and dynamical evolution of the Milky Way Galaxy from its birth to the present. Astrophysicists try to understand the production of the elements over cosmic time, using telescopes and satellites costing billions of dollars. This project will calculate the evolutionary history and detailed nuclear processes in stars of all masses and compositions. When coupled with dynamical models for stars in the Milky Way, this project will categorise how the composition changes with time, thus extracting the maximum understanding from the wealth of data to be delivered in the next few years.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101087
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,026.00
Summary
Modelling superfluid neutron stars. This project aims to construct realistic neutron star models, that will be used to interpret radio and x-ray data, but also to aid gravitational wave detection. These models will allow the study of matter at extreme densities in the stellar interior, well above nuclear density, thus making use of the most exciting physics laboratory in the cosmos.
Precision pair spectroscopy of the Hoyle state. This project aims to develop a novel new spectrometer to observe and characterise electron-positron pairs of high energy nuclear transitions with unprecedented precision. Building on unique Australian expertise and equipment, the outcomes will include new applications of electron spectroscopy to nuclear structure studies, and a better understanding of element synthesis in the universe, including the formation of 12C in the universe.
The origin of the elements heavier than iron. This research investigates the cosmic origin of the elements heavier than iron, as they are produced by nuclear reactions inside stars. The study of these elements in stars and meteorites will help us to understand the origin and history of the Solar System, of old stars and of stellar clusters and galaxies.
Cosmic explosions and the origin of the elements. After the big bang, the universe consisted only of hydrogen and helium; all heavier elements, including those necessary to life were made in stars and stellar explosions. This project will develop an understanding and model stars, stellar explosions and the synthesis of heavy elements from the first stars to the present.