Levitated Quantum Optomechanics with Trapped, Rotating Microparticles. This project will develop techniques for trapping, rotating and cooling microscopic particles in vacuum for exquisitely accurate studies of sensors and of fundamental physics at the classical-quantum interface - namely quantum vacuum friction. It will result in the establishment of an internationally recognised activity in rotational levitated optomechanics and expand Australia's presence in the field of quantum photonics. It ....Levitated Quantum Optomechanics with Trapped, Rotating Microparticles. This project will develop techniques for trapping, rotating and cooling microscopic particles in vacuum for exquisitely accurate studies of sensors and of fundamental physics at the classical-quantum interface - namely quantum vacuum friction. It will result in the establishment of an internationally recognised activity in rotational levitated optomechanics and expand Australia's presence in the field of quantum photonics. It has the potential for commercial benefit in areas including photonics, sensors and advanced manufacturingRead moreRead less
Paradigm Shift in Mid-IR Fibre Laser. This project introduces a paradigm shift in 3.5µm mid-IR fibre lasers. A new laser process will be investigated to obtain high-power, simple and robust mid-IR fibre laser design. We will use advanced spectroscopy to characterize the fibre laser dynamics, computer modelling to optimize the laser design, and demonstrate the concept experimentally. The new design will enable agile, high precision polymer processing tailored to the unique absorption lines of car ....Paradigm Shift in Mid-IR Fibre Laser. This project introduces a paradigm shift in 3.5µm mid-IR fibre lasers. A new laser process will be investigated to obtain high-power, simple and robust mid-IR fibre laser design. We will use advanced spectroscopy to characterize the fibre laser dynamics, computer modelling to optimize the laser design, and demonstrate the concept experimentally. The new design will enable agile, high precision polymer processing tailored to the unique absorption lines of carbon-hydrogen bonds in different polymers where there is currently a lack of high power, high brightness low-cost light sources. It will also open the door for very high-resolution laser assisted glass 3D-printing. The project will give Australia a new edge in advanced manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Novel source of excited metastable atoms for Atom Trap Trace Analysis. This project aims to understand and to control light-induced processes in atoms by using finely shaped and tailored laser pulses, focusing on efficient production of excited metastable atoms. This is critical for efficient Atom Trap Trace Analysis, the most advanced technique for dating ground water and geological samples. Expected outcomes of this project include new and enhanced knowledge of physics of light-matter interact ....Novel source of excited metastable atoms for Atom Trap Trace Analysis. This project aims to understand and to control light-induced processes in atoms by using finely shaped and tailored laser pulses, focusing on efficient production of excited metastable atoms. This is critical for efficient Atom Trap Trace Analysis, the most advanced technique for dating ground water and geological samples. Expected outcomes of this project include new and enhanced knowledge of physics of light-matter interactions, developing an efficient, clean source of excited metastable atoms, and integrating that source into the Australian National Facility for dating geological samples. This should provide significant benefits, such as significant improvement of operational efficiency and productivity of that facility.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the neutron lifetime puzzle with lattice quantum chromodynamics. This project will perform supercomputer simulations to confront one of the outstanding puzzles of nuclear and particle physics, the neutron lifetime. New knowledge will be generated through the development of novel theoretical and numerical techniques to increase the precision of the leading theoretical inputs required to predict the neutron lifetime. The outcomes will provide crucial theoretical guidance into understan ....Unravelling the neutron lifetime puzzle with lattice quantum chromodynamics. This project will perform supercomputer simulations to confront one of the outstanding puzzles of nuclear and particle physics, the neutron lifetime. New knowledge will be generated through the development of novel theoretical and numerical techniques to increase the precision of the leading theoretical inputs required to predict the neutron lifetime. The outcomes will provide crucial theoretical guidance into understanding the neutron; helping to guide the next-generation neutron experiments, from particle physics to applications in advanced materials science. The results will have immediate benefit by resolving the neutron lifetime puzzle, while enabling Australian scientists to take a leadership role in this area of fundamental science.Read moreRead less
A New Approach to the Structure of Atomic Nuclei. Starting at the quark level, we have derived a theory of nuclear structure, that in its initial application appears extremely successful. The aim of this project is to advance this revolutionary new approach to the theory of nuclear structure to the next level by exploring its predictions for a number of outstanding questions in modern nuclear physics. This includes the properties of superheavy nuclei, with atomic number beyond 100, including the ....A New Approach to the Structure of Atomic Nuclei. Starting at the quark level, we have derived a theory of nuclear structure, that in its initial application appears extremely successful. The aim of this project is to advance this revolutionary new approach to the theory of nuclear structure to the next level by exploring its predictions for a number of outstanding questions in modern nuclear physics. This includes the properties of superheavy nuclei, with atomic number beyond 100, including the potential existence of a new region of stability and complementing experimental searches underway internationally to discover the limits of stability with large neutron or proton excess, which is crucial to understanding the origin of the elements and may contribute new energy related technology.Read moreRead less
Low-energy electro-photonics: novel materials, devices and systems. This project aims to develop low-power technologies for programming and tuning photonic integrated circuits (PICs). By replacing thermal tuning, the project will reduce power consumption from watts to milliwatts, which also eliminates the thermal crosstalk that limits the complexity of today's PICs. The expected outcome will be the basis for a generic field-programmable photonic chip, which can be used to rapidly prototype desig ....Low-energy electro-photonics: novel materials, devices and systems. This project aims to develop low-power technologies for programming and tuning photonic integrated circuits (PICs). By replacing thermal tuning, the project will reduce power consumption from watts to milliwatts, which also eliminates the thermal crosstalk that limits the complexity of today's PICs. The expected outcome will be the basis for a generic field-programmable photonic chip, which can be used to rapidly prototype designs for production as full custom chips as part of a new Australian industry capability. The expected benefits will be a faster innovation cycle, greater adoption of photonic technologies, and support of research into, for example, neuromorphic optical processing, and advanced communications and sensing systems.Read moreRead less
Pumping up the volume on sound-light interactions. This project aims to create a new class of integrated microwave information processors on a single optical chip. Using electro-acoustic coupling in semiconductors, we expect to reduce optical power requirements hundredfold, enabling the emergence of practically deployable processors using ordinary telecom lasers. The expected project outcomes are inexpensive, compact, stable and energy efficient microwave photonic processors, a key requirement f ....Pumping up the volume on sound-light interactions. This project aims to create a new class of integrated microwave information processors on a single optical chip. Using electro-acoustic coupling in semiconductors, we expect to reduce optical power requirements hundredfold, enabling the emergence of practically deployable processors using ordinary telecom lasers. The expected project outcomes are inexpensive, compact, stable and energy efficient microwave photonic processors, a key requirement for reference standards and precision measurements of time and frequency. This technology has the potential to create a multitude of opportunities for commercial development in the fields of defence, information security, autonomous vehicles, sensing, and ultra-high bandwidth mobile communications.Read moreRead less
Non-equilibrium presolvation electron processes at the gas-liquid interface. The interaction of low-temperature plasma electrons with liquids has served as a reducing agent in various technological applications in water treatment, agriculture, biofuels and medicine. Predictive control of the plasma-liquid interface is essential to unlocking the potential of these applications, and this has been limited by the absence of the relevant non-equilibrium transport theory describing electrons at the pl ....Non-equilibrium presolvation electron processes at the gas-liquid interface. The interaction of low-temperature plasma electrons with liquids has served as a reducing agent in various technological applications in water treatment, agriculture, biofuels and medicine. Predictive control of the plasma-liquid interface is essential to unlocking the potential of these applications, and this has been limited by the absence of the relevant non-equilibrium transport theory describing electrons at the plasma-liquid interface together with fundamental data describing electron interactions with liquids. The project will develop a state of the art presolvation electron transport model informed by world first measurements of electron cross-sections for radicals and liquids and apply it to model plasma electrochemistry processes.Read moreRead less
New Techniques for New Physics Searches at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. This project aims to break new ground in the quest to discover the existence of new fundamental constituents of nature. In order to achieve this, the team will invent and deploy a suite of advanced machine learning and anomaly detection techniques, developed by the chief investigators, to mine the data processed and collected with the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider throughout the entirety of the next d ....New Techniques for New Physics Searches at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. This project aims to break new ground in the quest to discover the existence of new fundamental constituents of nature. In order to achieve this, the team will invent and deploy a suite of advanced machine learning and anomaly detection techniques, developed by the chief investigators, to mine the data processed and collected with the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider throughout the entirety of the next data taking run. Expected outcomes of this project include the first application of revolutionary anomaly detection methods to fundamental physics, probing unexplored space in the process, and enhancing the capacity and development of future leaders in Australian science and technology at the forefront of data analytics.Read moreRead less
Imaging the spatial distribution of forces that bind quarks to a proton. This project will perform supercomputer simulations to resolve the distribution of forces acting on quarks inside the proton. New knowledge will be generated in the area of fundamental strong-interaction physics by developing innovative approaches to image novel features that have not been possible in the past. The outcomes will therefore open new research possibilities by expanding the capacity of the international communi ....Imaging the spatial distribution of forces that bind quarks to a proton. This project will perform supercomputer simulations to resolve the distribution of forces acting on quarks inside the proton. New knowledge will be generated in the area of fundamental strong-interaction physics by developing innovative approaches to image novel features that have not been possible in the past. The outcomes will therefore open new research possibilities by expanding the capacity of the international community to study strong interaction physics—including direct relevance to experimental research at the recently-upgraded Jefferson Lab in the US. In analogy to Rutherford's atomic model, the results will have benefit to future generations of humanity with a deeper understanding of the structure of matter.Read moreRead less