Physics of extreme brightness temperatures in radioastronomical sources. Pulsars and some quasars are so very bright that the conventional explanation for radioastronomical emission from other sources either does not apply to them, or presents unsolved problems. We see (in radio waves) these sources through the interstellar medium which acts like a wrinkled pane of glass in distorting the image. New scientific ideas and methodologies are proposed here and will be explored in the project, with th ....Physics of extreme brightness temperatures in radioastronomical sources. Pulsars and some quasars are so very bright that the conventional explanation for radioastronomical emission from other sources either does not apply to them, or presents unsolved problems. We see (in radio waves) these sources through the interstellar medium which acts like a wrinkled pane of glass in distorting the image. New scientific ideas and methodologies are proposed here and will be explored in the project, with the objective to understand these sources and to extract information on their propreties and those of the interstellar medium. Read moreRead less
Interstellar Gas Dynamics. The conversion of interstellar gas into stars is a key process in the life-history of galaxies and the formation of planetary systems. Star formation takes place within a heterogeneous, dynamic cloud, and entails a million-fold contraction controlled by a complex interplay between gravity, magnetic forces, ionisation balance, chemical reactions and particles of interstellar dust. Previous modelling has adopted inappropriate approximations for the evolution of the mag ....Interstellar Gas Dynamics. The conversion of interstellar gas into stars is a key process in the life-history of galaxies and the formation of planetary systems. Star formation takes place within a heterogeneous, dynamic cloud, and entails a million-fold contraction controlled by a complex interplay between gravity, magnetic forces, ionisation balance, chemical reactions and particles of interstellar dust. Previous modelling has adopted inappropriate approximations for the evolution of the magnetic field. This research will bring a rigorous treatment of magnetic diffusion to bear on the theory of cloud evolution, shock waves, star formation and protoplanetary discs.
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Cosmology and astrophysics with neutrinos and other elementary particles. Particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics provide a major contribution to the scientific and intellectual culture of the nation, as they address some of the most important questions in physical science. The nation's international standing will benefit greatly from participation in these quintessentially Big Science activities. High achieving students are very excited by the research questions addressed in this proposal, ....Cosmology and astrophysics with neutrinos and other elementary particles. Particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics provide a major contribution to the scientific and intellectual culture of the nation, as they address some of the most important questions in physical science. The nation's international standing will benefit greatly from participation in these quintessentially Big Science activities. High achieving students are very excited by the research questions addressed in this proposal, so it will add significantly to the pool of highly-trained young Australians. They emerge as general problem solvers and flexible thinkers of high calibre in addition to becoming experts in particular areas. The big fundamental questions to be considered are also of great fascination to the general public.Read moreRead less
Complex plasmas: self-organized dusty matter from nanotechnology to astrophysics. The importance of complex plasmas is based on their intricate self-organized behaviour, on their rich variety in nature and extensive use in the laboratory and advanced technologies. This project aims at breakthrough results advancing the fundamental knowledge and contributing to frontier technologies such as nanoelectronics and nanotechnology as well as reliability of space technological systems and communication ....Complex plasmas: self-organized dusty matter from nanotechnology to astrophysics. The importance of complex plasmas is based on their intricate self-organized behaviour, on their rich variety in nature and extensive use in the laboratory and advanced technologies. This project aims at breakthrough results advancing the fundamental knowledge and contributing to frontier technologies such as nanoelectronics and nanotechnology as well as reliability of space technological systems and communications. The project will boost fundamental and applied aspects of the Australian science as well as international collaborative links of Australian research and technology by allowing access and involvement to advanced multi-national programs and high-profile experiments such as those on board the International Space Station.Read moreRead less
Neutrino physics: a window on physics beyond the standard model. The recent observation of neutrino oscillations demonstrates that neutrinos have a non-vanishing mass. This is not accomodated in our "standard model" of particle physics, which must therefore be extended. Clues has to how this extension is to be made are to be found in the pattern of masses and mixings, and in possible new interactions involving neutrinos. These clues will be examined to find a viable set of extensions of th ....Neutrino physics: a window on physics beyond the standard model. The recent observation of neutrino oscillations demonstrates that neutrinos have a non-vanishing mass. This is not accomodated in our "standard model" of particle physics, which must therefore be extended. Clues has to how this extension is to be made are to be found in the pattern of masses and mixings, and in possible new interactions involving neutrinos. These clues will be examined to find a viable set of extensions of the standard model.Read moreRead less
Dark Matter Discovery. Dark matter research is fundamental breakthrough science, thus its National and Community benefits can only be indirect. This, nevertheless, does not reduce the importance of these benefits. The proposed program strengthens Australian fundamental science by extending it in a new direction, and considerably boosts the quality of theoretical dark matter research in Australia. Since a large part of the proposed work is expected to be performed in international collaboratio ....Dark Matter Discovery. Dark matter research is fundamental breakthrough science, thus its National and Community benefits can only be indirect. This, nevertheless, does not reduce the importance of these benefits. The proposed program strengthens Australian fundamental science by extending it in a new direction, and considerably boosts the quality of theoretical dark matter research in Australia. Since a large part of the proposed work is expected to be performed in international collaboration, positive results will increase the Australian presence on the international astro-particle physics scene. Successful students involved in this project are also expected to assume leading roles in international dark matter research.Read moreRead less
Feedback Processes in Galaxy Formation. We have an opportunity to combine the best Australian theory with the best local and international telescopes, to probe the murky story of how galaxies form and why they look they way they do today. By looking back to a time when the Universe was only 1 billion years old, and comparing what we see with cutting edge supercomputer simulations plus pure theory, we will gain insight into the birth of entire galaxies. The results will form part of the study o ....Feedback Processes in Galaxy Formation. We have an opportunity to combine the best Australian theory with the best local and international telescopes, to probe the murky story of how galaxies form and why they look they way they do today. By looking back to a time when the Universe was only 1 billion years old, and comparing what we see with cutting edge supercomputer simulations plus pure theory, we will gain insight into the birth of entire galaxies. The results will form part of the study of how the universe works - that is driving astrophysics today, and represents pure research for the sake of advancing knowledge and showing us where we fit into the Universe. In doing so we will also advance Australia's base of theoretical and computational expertise.Read moreRead less
Origins of our Universe. The present proposal will study the origins of our Universe, which is one of the grand challenges of 21st century physics. As such it will utilise insights and discoveries in many areas of physics, ranging from string theory and particle physics at the highest energies, to x-ray, optical and radio astronomy. The research program will add to our understanding of a fundamental branch of science - extending it in new directions - thereby considerably boosting the quality of ....Origins of our Universe. The present proposal will study the origins of our Universe, which is one of the grand challenges of 21st century physics. As such it will utilise insights and discoveries in many areas of physics, ranging from string theory and particle physics at the highest energies, to x-ray, optical and radio astronomy. The research program will add to our understanding of a fundamental branch of science - extending it in new directions - thereby considerably boosting the quality of cosmology and theoretical physics research in Australia. In concert with our international collaborations, work arising from this fellowship will enhance the Australian presence on the international cosmology, astro-particle, and theoretical physics scene.
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Field Statistics of Space and Astrophysical Phenomena. Waves and radiation typically occur in bursts and persist, with their driving particle distributions, for unexpectedly long distances in space and astrophysical sources. These features cannot be accounted for with older plasma theory but are explained naturally with stochastic growth theory (SGT). Recent observations show SGT to be widely applicable in space and for pulsars. We propose to make SGT into a quantitative dynamic theory tested on ....Field Statistics of Space and Astrophysical Phenomena. Waves and radiation typically occur in bursts and persist, with their driving particle distributions, for unexpectedly long distances in space and astrophysical sources. These features cannot be accounted for with older plasma theory but are explained naturally with stochastic growth theory (SGT). Recent observations show SGT to be widely applicable in space and for pulsars. We propose to make SGT into a quantitative dynamic theory tested on known SGT systems, to discover and interpret field statistics of natural radio emissions, and to develop and test observationally theories based on SGT and associated wave/radiation processes for key space and astrophysical phenomena.Read moreRead less
Black Hole Accretion: The Effects of Magnetic Fields and Radiation. This project represents a significant contribution by Australian researchers to one of Science's Big Questions: How do Black Holes channel gravitational energy into radiation at many different energies and into high speed outflows. It offers Australian Astronomy an opportunity to expand its endeavours into the rapidly growing and high profile areas of high-energy and computational astrophysics, injecting new expertise into the i ....Black Hole Accretion: The Effects of Magnetic Fields and Radiation. This project represents a significant contribution by Australian researchers to one of Science's Big Questions: How do Black Holes channel gravitational energy into radiation at many different energies and into high speed outflows. It offers Australian Astronomy an opportunity to expand its endeavours into the rapidly growing and high profile areas of high-energy and computational astrophysics, injecting new expertise into the interpretation of multi-wavelength data on accreting black holes. We will train a new cohort of internationally competitive students and early career researchers, equipping them with the advanced computational and modelling skills that are in increasingly higher demand in many technology-based industries.Read moreRead less