Quantum limits in measurement and communication. By manipulating atoms and single particles of light, quantum technologies promise a revolution in communications systems and high-precision measurements for scientific and engineering applications. The benefits of this revolution may be comparable with those of modern semiconductors. This project will bring these benefits closer by achieving the fundamental limits to measurement allowed by quantum physics, and harnessing the power of these measure ....Quantum limits in measurement and communication. By manipulating atoms and single particles of light, quantum technologies promise a revolution in communications systems and high-precision measurements for scientific and engineering applications. The benefits of this revolution may be comparable with those of modern semiconductors. This project will bring these benefits closer by achieving the fundamental limits to measurement allowed by quantum physics, and harnessing the power of these measurements for communication. It will also identify ways to simplify potential quantum technologies, hastening their adoption. This research will place Australian theoretical and experimental researchers at the forefront of 21st century technology.Read moreRead less
Redefining Temperature. The international system of units, which is at the basis of every accurate measurement, requires coherent definitions for its basic units (eg. metre, second, kelvin). Unfortunately, at the moment this is not so, and a global call has gone out to redefine every basic unit in terms of fundamental constants, which are by definition the same anywhere and anytime. This project will develop a new laser-based approach to measuring temperature which can be widely deployed and us ....Redefining Temperature. The international system of units, which is at the basis of every accurate measurement, requires coherent definitions for its basic units (eg. metre, second, kelvin). Unfortunately, at the moment this is not so, and a global call has gone out to redefine every basic unit in terms of fundamental constants, which are by definition the same anywhere and anytime. This project will develop a new laser-based approach to measuring temperature which can be widely deployed and uses fundamental principles for its operation: this can bring accuracy to thermometry in industry for the first time. These outcomes will generate high-level recognition for this Australian project and provide opportunities for high level research training.Read moreRead less
Magnetic and electric field tuneable magnetic heterostructures. Australian science and technology will be a leading participant in the creation of a new, useful magneto-electric composite material whose properties arise from careful atomic level design. This goal has been long sought after, and only recently come within reach. Recent proof-of-concept demonstrations have inspired an explosion of activity on a global scale together with intensive searches for additional examples of useful materia ....Magnetic and electric field tuneable magnetic heterostructures. Australian science and technology will be a leading participant in the creation of a new, useful magneto-electric composite material whose properties arise from careful atomic level design. This goal has been long sought after, and only recently come within reach. Recent proof-of-concept demonstrations have inspired an explosion of activity on a global scale together with intensive searches for additional examples of useful material combinations. In this project, young Australian scientists and research students will have opportunities to receive training and become involved in a National Priority Frontier Technology rich in possibilities for generation of intellectual property.Read moreRead less
Galaxy formation and femtosecond frequency combs. I bring galaxy observations from already-scheduled European time on
major international telescopes and I will add significant value to
large US datasets. The scientific return will accrue to Australian
researchers. I bring strong collaborations with the UK, USA, Europe
and Canada, providing galaxy data which Australia cannot otherwise
access. I will establish a new knowledge-base in Australia by applying
femtosecond frequency comb technolog ....Galaxy formation and femtosecond frequency combs. I bring galaxy observations from already-scheduled European time on
major international telescopes and I will add significant value to
large US datasets. The scientific return will accrue to Australian
researchers. I bring strong collaborations with the UK, USA, Europe
and Canada, providing galaxy data which Australia cannot otherwise
access. I will establish a new knowledge-base in Australia by applying
femtosecond frequency comb technology to astronomy. This will cement
Australian involvment in future telescopes. New technology for
Australian telescopes, commercial and industry links are also
possible. Student training is a main focus, providing a future for
Australian research and skills transferable to industry.Read moreRead less
Memory effects in magnetic metals: origin, utility and control in magnetoelectronics using layered nanopatterns. The work is in the important area of magneto-electronics, a field recognised by the 2007 Nobel Prize awarded in Physics. Training opportunities for Honours and postgraduate students will be provided at the forefront of this high profile area, thereby expanding Australian knowledge base and capability. New opportunities for interaction between several groups in Australia will be create ....Memory effects in magnetic metals: origin, utility and control in magnetoelectronics using layered nanopatterns. The work is in the important area of magneto-electronics, a field recognised by the 2007 Nobel Prize awarded in Physics. Training opportunities for Honours and postgraduate students will be provided at the forefront of this high profile area, thereby expanding Australian knowledge base and capability. New opportunities for interaction between several groups in Australia will be created. The projects will involve PhD students shared between Australian institutions and collaborating groups overseas, thereby cementing collaborations while simultaneously providing unique training environments. The project will use and support activities associated with the Australian major facilities. Read moreRead less
Dynamics of Interacting Bose Gases/Fluids in Atomic and Condensed Matter Systems. This research would raise the profile of Australian theoretical physics in two key areas of fundamental research. The work on correlated electron fluids will be directly related to the breakdown of the quantum Hall effect, which is used to maintain the resistance standard, with one possible outcome being the improvement of the accuracy of this standard. The work on the dynamics of dilute gas Bose-Einstein condensat ....Dynamics of Interacting Bose Gases/Fluids in Atomic and Condensed Matter Systems. This research would raise the profile of Australian theoretical physics in two key areas of fundamental research. The work on correlated electron fluids will be directly related to the breakdown of the quantum Hall effect, which is used to maintain the resistance standard, with one possible outcome being the improvement of the accuracy of this standard. The work on the dynamics of dilute gas Bose-Einstein condensates will promote understanding of such systems and propose knew methods of exploring this novel state of matter. Drawing analogies between these two diverse subjects will promote a greater understanding of both research fields. The work would be in collaboration with internationally renowned research groups.Read moreRead less
Quantum Nanoscience. This project will deliver a new Australian capability in the core nanotechnology of quantum electromechanical systems. Nanotechnology is a suite of techniques and processes to create new materials and devices through complex processing of constituents at the nanoscale and, in the case of quantum electromechanical systems, even with moving parts. At the nanoscale, quantum principles apply. New nano-fabrication methods are now available to build nano-electromechanical systems ....Quantum Nanoscience. This project will deliver a new Australian capability in the core nanotechnology of quantum electromechanical systems. Nanotechnology is a suite of techniques and processes to create new materials and devices through complex processing of constituents at the nanoscale and, in the case of quantum electromechanical systems, even with moving parts. At the nanoscale, quantum principles apply. New nano-fabrication methods are now available to build nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS), integrated with electronics and nano optics and cooled into the quantum regime. Quantum electromechanical systems (QEMS) enable new sensors with ultimate sensitivity limited only by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, with applications in photonics, metrology and bio molecular imaging.Read moreRead less
The first critical tests of many-body and correlated Quantum Electro-Dynamics (QED) in medium-Z atomic systems. Major difficulties are being encountered in the computation of high-order and correlated terms of Quantum Electro-Dynamical effects in atoms. We will make the first measurements for medium-Z atoms critically sensitive to two-electron QED, and the first tests of QED in this region accurate to 1%. This accuracy will allow new insight into two-electron systems, theoretical approaches, and ....The first critical tests of many-body and correlated Quantum Electro-Dynamics (QED) in medium-Z atomic systems. Major difficulties are being encountered in the computation of high-order and correlated terms of Quantum Electro-Dynamical effects in atoms. We will make the first measurements for medium-Z atoms critically sensitive to two-electron QED, and the first tests of QED in this region accurate to 1%. This accuracy will allow new insight into two-electron systems, theoretical approaches, and recent observed discrepancies between QED theory and experiment. This proposal follows recent successful experimental work using new capabilities of Electron-Beam Ion Traps (EBITs). Our recent publications have proven that this novel approach can yield new insight into the interaction of light with matter.Read moreRead less
The Development of Quantum Gravity. This research constitutes the first large-scale effort to unpack and make sense of the development of quantum gravity. Given the pressing nature of this problem and its importance for our worldview, such a study would be of great benefit to several sectors of the academic community. By giving a global perspective of the field from its origins those outside the field will be able to appreciate its importance and its place in contemporary physics. Quantum gravi ....The Development of Quantum Gravity. This research constitutes the first large-scale effort to unpack and make sense of the development of quantum gravity. Given the pressing nature of this problem and its importance for our worldview, such a study would be of great benefit to several sectors of the academic community. By giving a global perspective of the field from its origins those outside the field will be able to appreciate its importance and its place in contemporary physics. Quantum gravity researchers will be able to see how their preferred approach fits into the web of research programmes, thus opening the door for greater collaboration between the various approaches. This research will greatly enhance Australia's position in this breakthrough science.Read moreRead less
First Principles Catalyst Design Towards an Environmentally Clean and Energy Efficient Future. This Proposal will explore through first-principles calculations novel catalytic materials critical for the advancement of hydrogen production and fuel-cell performance, as a viable clean energy source. Theory and computation in forefront sciences plays a crucial role not only in understanding and guiding experiment, but in prediciting new (potential) structures and processes. This project will involv ....First Principles Catalyst Design Towards an Environmentally Clean and Energy Efficient Future. This Proposal will explore through first-principles calculations novel catalytic materials critical for the advancement of hydrogen production and fuel-cell performance, as a viable clean energy source. Theory and computation in forefront sciences plays a crucial role not only in understanding and guiding experiment, but in prediciting new (potential) structures and processes. This project will involve collaboration with leading international experts, thus enhancing Australias knowledge base and research capacity. This work will raise the profile of Australian-lead research, and afford a deeper integration into global reseach programs.Read moreRead less