Gravitational-wave astrophysics of binary black holes. Do black holes live alone, or form lasting gravitational partnerships? This question is of immense significance to astronomers. The emerging field of gravitational-wave astronomy is set to provide the answers. This project aims to develop innovative strategies to search for black hole pairs using leading technologies built with Australian expertise.
Testing pulsar emission models and general relativity at pico arcsecond resolution. A holographic technique has been pioneered that harnesses scattering in interstellar space to resolve the emission from pulsars at a resolution of 50 pico-arcseconds, six orders of magnitude finer than has been achieved by conventional radio astronomical interferometry. This project will directly measure the size of the emission regions in a set of pulsars, and hence resolve the 40-year old debate regarding the s ....Testing pulsar emission models and general relativity at pico arcsecond resolution. A holographic technique has been pioneered that harnesses scattering in interstellar space to resolve the emission from pulsars at a resolution of 50 pico-arcseconds, six orders of magnitude finer than has been achieved by conventional radio astronomical interferometry. This project will directly measure the size of the emission regions in a set of pulsars, and hence resolve the 40-year old debate regarding the site of their radio emission. The project will also apply the technique to binary pulsar systems to provide a new test of General Relativity.Read moreRead less
Gravitational wave astrophysics with Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). The prediction that space and time vibrate is one of Einstein's greatest legacies, implying the existence of a new form of radiation with which to study the Universe. This project puts Australia in the vanguard of the billion-dollar effort worldwide to detect and harness this radiation for the first time.
Controlling parametric instabilities in advanced GW detectors. This project aims to solve the problem of parametric instability in gravitational wave detectors to support an international large-scale physics experiment. The project is part of Australia’s participation in the new advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) gravitational wave detectors that have been designed to achieve the first detection of gravitational waves. A 2005 prediction made by the project leader ....Controlling parametric instabilities in advanced GW detectors. This project aims to solve the problem of parametric instability in gravitational wave detectors to support an international large-scale physics experiment. The project is part of Australia’s participation in the new advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) gravitational wave detectors that have been designed to achieve the first detection of gravitational waves. A 2005 prediction made by the project leaders that the detectors would experience acoustic instabilities was confirmed during detector commissioning in 2014. The project team plans to work closely with the detector designers and commissioners to solve this problem and allow the detectors to achieve their target sensitivity.Read moreRead less
An upgraded pulsar timing array for gravitational wave detection. Millisecond pulsars are remarkably regularly-rotating neutron stars that offer the opportunity to detect gravitational waves via the technique known as pulsar timing. Australia has long been a world leader in the discovery and timing of millisecond pulsars, and the Parkes pulsar timing array is one of three major programmes in the world aimed at making the first direct detection of gravitational waves in any frequency band. This p ....An upgraded pulsar timing array for gravitational wave detection. Millisecond pulsars are remarkably regularly-rotating neutron stars that offer the opportunity to detect gravitational waves via the technique known as pulsar timing. Australia has long been a world leader in the discovery and timing of millisecond pulsars, and the Parkes pulsar timing array is one of three major programmes in the world aimed at making the first direct detection of gravitational waves in any frequency band. This project is designed to capitalise on Australia's position of strength in this field by extending the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array dataset (PPTA) so that it has the best chance of detecting gravitational waves in the nanohertz regime until the SKA pathfinders start to come online in 2017.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.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101145
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$338,895.00
Summary
Before stars go supernova - in 3D. This project aims to understand the full three-dimensional structure of massive stars when they explode. In particular, the project will model the late evolution and burning stages of massive stars before they explode as core collapse supernovae. The violent nature of the thermonuclear burning during the star's last few minutes and seconds may cause significant deviations from spherical symmetry, in particular when considering rotating stars. Such realistic mod ....Before stars go supernova - in 3D. This project aims to understand the full three-dimensional structure of massive stars when they explode. In particular, the project will model the late evolution and burning stages of massive stars before they explode as core collapse supernovae. The violent nature of the thermonuclear burning during the star's last few minutes and seconds may cause significant deviations from spherical symmetry, in particular when considering rotating stars. Such realistic models are an essential ingredient for any realistic supernova model, and for understanding how these supernovae synthesise the entire range of elements (from lightest to the heaviest) in the universe.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101443
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$343,450.00
Summary
Composite quantum systems at the interplay with general relativity. This project aims to develop an operational framework for time and causality at a quantum and gravity interface, testable with nascent quantum technologies. The notion of time is not fully understood in physics, yet it is among the most precisely measurable quantities. The project expects to deliver new knowledge in the foundations of quantum physics by developing mathematical tools which are relevant beyond the context of gravi ....Composite quantum systems at the interplay with general relativity. This project aims to develop an operational framework for time and causality at a quantum and gravity interface, testable with nascent quantum technologies. The notion of time is not fully understood in physics, yet it is among the most precisely measurable quantities. The project expects to deliver new knowledge in the foundations of quantum physics by developing mathematical tools which are relevant beyond the context of gravity. Expected outcomes include enhanced understanding of the notions of time and causality in quantum physics, and formulation of new experimental paradigms to test them. The project will enhance our understanding of the notion of time in quantum theory, bringing a cultural benefit to the scientific community and the general public.Read moreRead less
Ultra-sensitive third-generation gravitational wave detectors. Second-generation gravitational wave detectors that will directly detect gravitational waves for the first time are currently being assembled. Their sensitivity will be limited by intrinsic thermal motion of the atoms in the mirror coatings and the quantum nature of the laser beams in the detectors. This project aims to develop new designs with the aim of circumventing these limitations and developing the ultra-sensitive optical metr ....Ultra-sensitive third-generation gravitational wave detectors. Second-generation gravitational wave detectors that will directly detect gravitational waves for the first time are currently being assembled. Their sensitivity will be limited by intrinsic thermal motion of the atoms in the mirror coatings and the quantum nature of the laser beams in the detectors. This project aims to develop new designs with the aim of circumventing these limitations and developing the ultra-sensitive optical metrology required to realise those designs. It is expected that the increased sensitivity of these third-generation detectors will allow more detailed measurement of the gravitational wave signals and provide unprecedented understanding of some of the most violent events in the universe.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100008
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
Australian Seismic Imaging Array. The project aims to create a facility for developing techniques for imaging the deep earth and the surface motion in ambient seismic waves created by wind, waves and human activity. The techniques will enable sources of seismic vibrations to be identified and suppressed, and will allow mapping techniques to be developed for monitoring and discovery of resources such as ground water. Gravitational wave researchers will benefit from the ability to suppress seismic ....Australian Seismic Imaging Array. The project aims to create a facility for developing techniques for imaging the deep earth and the surface motion in ambient seismic waves created by wind, waves and human activity. The techniques will enable sources of seismic vibrations to be identified and suppressed, and will allow mapping techniques to be developed for monitoring and discovery of resources such as ground water. Gravitational wave researchers will benefit from the ability to suppress seismic vibrations, while geophysicists will benefit from new techniques and training. Read moreRead less