The Mechanics of Nanoscale Devices. Australian developments in biosensing, medical diagnostics, clean energy, communication and security technologies, are rapidly growing due to our mounting capacity in nanoscale fabrication. Vital for evolution of next-generation nanodevices is an understanding of how mechanical processes operate at such small scales. This application will contribute to this scientific knowledge base. This will in turn assist Australian industries to progress these applications ....The Mechanics of Nanoscale Devices. Australian developments in biosensing, medical diagnostics, clean energy, communication and security technologies, are rapidly growing due to our mounting capacity in nanoscale fabrication. Vital for evolution of next-generation nanodevices is an understanding of how mechanical processes operate at such small scales. This application will contribute to this scientific knowledge base. This will in turn assist Australian industries to progress these applications and devices, leading to economic, social and technological gains for the Australian community.Read moreRead less
High-performance computational data-mining techniques for feature detection in complex time series from large-scale, networked plasma experiments. Terabytes of data are gathered from large experimental facilities as complex time-series. Analysis of these data is daunting, especially when they involve high-dimensional spectral or image arrays. We will develop high-performance computational techniques for dimension reduction, efficient data-mining, and experimental control, using as an initial ta ....High-performance computational data-mining techniques for feature detection in complex time series from large-scale, networked plasma experiments. Terabytes of data are gathered from large experimental facilities as complex time-series. Analysis of these data is daunting, especially when they involve high-dimensional spectral or image arrays. We will develop high-performance computational techniques for dimension reduction, efficient data-mining, and experimental control, using as an initial target the H-1NF plasma fusion MNRF at the ANU and its >100 GB/year data stream. The techniques will immediately provide Australian researchers with unique tools for collaboration in international research to develop fusion as a low-emissions source of electricity, and will be applicable to complex time-series analysis in other areas of science, medicine, and defence.Read moreRead less
Development of microwave tomography techniques and inverse methods for biomedical imaging applications. Microwave tomography is a rapidly emerging imaging technology with highly significant applications in industry and medicine. In particular, given its sensitivity to differences between normal and malignant breast tissue, non-invasive microwave imaging has been the subject of intense research interest in the last ten years. In collaboration with workers at Chalmers University in Sweden, we wi ....Development of microwave tomography techniques and inverse methods for biomedical imaging applications. Microwave tomography is a rapidly emerging imaging technology with highly significant applications in industry and medicine. In particular, given its sensitivity to differences between normal and malignant breast tissue, non-invasive microwave imaging has been the subject of intense research interest in the last ten years. In collaboration with workers at Chalmers University in Sweden, we will develop and evaluate a scanning microwave imaging tomographic system with a number of potential industrial and biomedical applications. This appears to be a new Australian initiative.Read moreRead less
Spin-dependent interactions: a fundamental basis for spin-electronics. This project will establish a comprehensive understanding of spin-dependent interactions and correlated behaviour of multi-electron systems that are responsible for spin-relaxation, spin transport and spin coherence in spin-electronic devices. Our approach is based on the spin-resolved two-electron coincidence spectroscopy that is inherently suited for studying electronic correlations. Systematic investigations of spin-depend ....Spin-dependent interactions: a fundamental basis for spin-electronics. This project will establish a comprehensive understanding of spin-dependent interactions and correlated behaviour of multi-electron systems that are responsible for spin-relaxation, spin transport and spin coherence in spin-electronic devices. Our approach is based on the spin-resolved two-electron coincidence spectroscopy that is inherently suited for studying electronic correlations. Systematic investigations of spin-dependent interactions in atoms, molecules and ultrathin films will increase understanding of magnetic (spin) properties of artificially structured materials with reduced dimensionality for the benefit of nanotechnology. This understanding will be used to design and control, at the quantum mechanical level, the building blocks of spin-electronic devices.Read moreRead less
Quantum Simulations with Dilute Gas Bose Einstein Condensates. Fundamental scientific research, such as we propose, is an important contributor to the long term wealth and well being of the Nation. It shapes our culture, our ways of thinking, and our beliefs. It also contributes directly, and in the shorter term, through the technology development that accompanies scientific research at the frontiers of knowledge. The students participating in this research will develop skills in innovation, int ....Quantum Simulations with Dilute Gas Bose Einstein Condensates. Fundamental scientific research, such as we propose, is an important contributor to the long term wealth and well being of the Nation. It shapes our culture, our ways of thinking, and our beliefs. It also contributes directly, and in the shorter term, through the technology development that accompanies scientific research at the frontiers of knowledge. The students participating in this research will develop skills in innovation, intellectual property management, and commercialisation - all of which are critical to the Nation's future.Read moreRead less
Experimental Demonstrations of New Theorems of Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics. In the last decade, two theorems have been proposed to revolutionise the field of thermodynamics. These theorems lift the restriction of the thermodynamic limit, allowing thermodynamic concepts to be applied to small systems such as nanomachines, and characterise systems that may be far-from-equilibrium. These theorems are at odds with a traditional understanding of 19th century thermodynamics where equilibrium is cent ....Experimental Demonstrations of New Theorems of Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics. In the last decade, two theorems have been proposed to revolutionise the field of thermodynamics. These theorems lift the restriction of the thermodynamic limit, allowing thermodynamic concepts to be applied to small systems such as nanomachines, and characterise systems that may be far-from-equilibrium. These theorems are at odds with a traditional understanding of 19th century thermodynamics where equilibrium is central and the Second Law inviolate. However they are critical to the application of thermodynamic concepts to modern systems of the 21st century. Using Optical Tweezers, we will experimentally demonstrate these theorems, present irrefutable evidence of their validity, and demonstrate their application in modern systems.Read moreRead less
Decoherence in quantum computing and quantum electromechanical systems. Australia is one of the world leaders in fundamental studies and implementation of quantum computing and quantum electromechanical systems. By developing a framework to quantify and control noise due to decoherence in such systems, this research will facilitate progress in the development and understanding of quantum computing and quantum electromechanical devices. The project will also significantly strengthen the general r ....Decoherence in quantum computing and quantum electromechanical systems. Australia is one of the world leaders in fundamental studies and implementation of quantum computing and quantum electromechanical systems. By developing a framework to quantify and control noise due to decoherence in such systems, this research will facilitate progress in the development and understanding of quantum computing and quantum electromechanical devices. The project will also significantly strengthen the general representation of research on decoherence, a field of crucial importance to many areas of theoretical and experimental physics, in Australia. Funding of this project will enable Australia to further expand its leading position in cutting-edge science and next-generation technology.
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Principles of quantum nanotechnology. Quantum physics in the last two decades has blazed an entry path for a new technology based on manipulating matter and light at the quantum level. In this project I will formulate principles for emerging quantum nanotechnologies: quantum electromechanical systems (QEMS), quantum molecular electronics, quantum optics and coherent matter physics. The principle applications to be investigated include: quantum control, quantum metrology, quantum communication a ....Principles of quantum nanotechnology. Quantum physics in the last two decades has blazed an entry path for a new technology based on manipulating matter and light at the quantum level. In this project I will formulate principles for emerging quantum nanotechnologies: quantum electromechanical systems (QEMS), quantum molecular electronics, quantum optics and coherent matter physics. The principle applications to be investigated include: quantum control, quantum metrology, quantum communication and quantum information processing. The project will be an essential part of two major multi-institutional international research projects; one based in the US (in QEMS) and one EU-based project in quantum metrology.Read moreRead less
Experimental Demonstrations of Violations of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Inventors and engineers strive to scale-down machines, devices and engines to nanometre sizes for a range of technological purposes and scientists investigate protein motors to understand their operation in hopes of modifying their biological behaviour. However, according to a new theorem in Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics, there is a fundamental limit to this scaling-down of engines: such nanomachines, includi ....Experimental Demonstrations of Violations of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Inventors and engineers strive to scale-down machines, devices and engines to nanometre sizes for a range of technological purposes and scientists investigate protein motors to understand their operation in hopes of modifying their biological behaviour. However, according to a new theorem in Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics, there is a fundamental limit to this scaling-down of engines: such nanomachines, including protein motors, will run in "reverse" for appreciable amounts of time and in violation of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. We propose to demonstrate this inescapable, operational limit in nanotechnology with experiments using an Optical Tweezers apparatus.Read moreRead less
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI0453648
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$144,184.00
Summary
Modelling of coupled heat and water flow through layered soils with an extension to heat flow through granulated soils. The main aim of this project is to develop a mathematical model to simulate coupled heat and water flow through layered soils. The coupling of the two processes will allow us to examine the interaction between heat and water flow. The project also aims to extend the heat component of the flow model to granulated heterogeneous soils by developing a model that encapsulates heat e ....Modelling of coupled heat and water flow through layered soils with an extension to heat flow through granulated soils. The main aim of this project is to develop a mathematical model to simulate coupled heat and water flow through layered soils. The coupling of the two processes will allow us to examine the interaction between heat and water flow. The project also aims to extend the heat component of the flow model to granulated heterogeneous soils by developing a model that encapsulates heat effects at the microscopic and macroscopic level. The model will be applied to two problems 1) hydraulic barriers in cover liner designs for landfills and 2) assessing the ability of heat sensors to measure various soil properties under field conditions.Read moreRead less