New directions for nuclear structure research in Australia. Studies of exotic nuclei far from stability with novel devices will support Australia's only top-level research effort in nuclear structure. The research will have fundamental impacts on our understanding of both the nucleus and stellar nucleosynthesis, as well as practical implications for the development of next-generation nuclear reactors.
Fusion Energy and the Physics of Burning Plasmas. The world faces a global energy crisis. Our standard of living, which is largely powered by base-load electricity supply, is unsustainable. Fusion power is a near zero greenhouse gas technology, which promises millions of years of base-load electricity, free from weapon proliferation. This promise has galvanised the international community to accelerate fusion development by committing to the next-step technology-enabling $16 billion experiment, ....Fusion Energy and the Physics of Burning Plasmas. The world faces a global energy crisis. Our standard of living, which is largely powered by base-load electricity supply, is unsustainable. Fusion power is a near zero greenhouse gas technology, which promises millions of years of base-load electricity, free from weapon proliferation. This promise has galvanised the international community to accelerate fusion development by committing to the next-step technology-enabling $16 billion experiment, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). In anticipation of ITER, this fellowship will foster growth of Australian fusion research, and address a grand science challenge facing ITER: how do we maintain burn in the face of potentially damaging plasma instabilities? The answer will affect both ITER and the viability of fusion power.Read moreRead less
Microscopic many-body quantum dynamics: new approaches for fundamental science and applications. A new approach to create and validate a fundamental microscopic quantum theory of interactions of composite systems, like molecules and nuclei, by exploiting ideal features of nuclear reactions such as fusion will be developed. This will have broad impact in interdisciplinary areas from astrophysics and molecular reactions to future nanotechnologies.
The development of novel and tunable metamaterials. Metamaterials are designed materials with properties that cannot be found in nature. This project uses a new disruptive design that allows broadband metamaterials to be made using mass production techniques. The design opens up a range of new applications in environmental and medical sensing, improved security screening and active devices.
Complex Ties: Investigating the Role of Networks in the Commercialisation of Public Research. This project seeks to understand the social processes that lead to commercialisation successes or failures in a competitive global economy and thereby identify activities that increase Australia’s ability to commercialise inventions from public research. Innovation is essential to Australia’s prosperity, bringing economic and social benefits. This project examines platform technologies which have a pote ....Complex Ties: Investigating the Role of Networks in the Commercialisation of Public Research. This project seeks to understand the social processes that lead to commercialisation successes or failures in a competitive global economy and thereby identify activities that increase Australia’s ability to commercialise inventions from public research. Innovation is essential to Australia’s prosperity, bringing economic and social benefits. This project examines platform technologies which have a potentially larger impact than single use technologies, because they can be applied in multiple ways. Using the latest advances in social network models, the project will detail the important substructures of collaboration networks which lead to commercialisation successes and failures, providing insights to improve the innovation process.Read moreRead less
Enhancing plant photosynthesis by engineering the carbon dioxide (CO2)-fixing enzyme Rubisco. Improving the ability of crops to use water, sunlight and fertiliser more efficiently would have economic benefits for Australia and ease the environmental impacts associated with agricultural practices. Photosynthesis research has confirmed that such improvements are theoretically possible by enhancing the efficiency of the protein, Rubisco, which initiates the conversion of carbon dioxide into carbon ....Enhancing plant photosynthesis by engineering the carbon dioxide (CO2)-fixing enzyme Rubisco. Improving the ability of crops to use water, sunlight and fertiliser more efficiently would have economic benefits for Australia and ease the environmental impacts associated with agricultural practices. Photosynthesis research has confirmed that such improvements are theoretically possible by enhancing the efficiency of the protein, Rubisco, which initiates the conversion of carbon dioxide into carbon compounds required for growth. The biotechnological research proposed here uses unique capabilities to improve our understanding of structural features in Rubisco that influence its assembly and functional efficiency in plants. This knowledge will pave the way for transplanting more efficient Rubisco into crops to improve their growth.Read moreRead less
The plasma boundary: a major challenge for fusion science and material technology for ITER and beyond. Plasma-surface interaction drives technological innovation in areas of nanofabrication, space science and magnetic fusion systems. This interdisciplinary research project will foster national and international collaborations, keeping Australia internationally competitive in, and at the forefront of, future technologies for energy and materials.
Breaking barriers to high-performance room-temperature quantum technologies. This project aims to break the major barriers to realising high-performance quantum technologies that operate at room temperature by exploiting the unique properties of colour centres in diamond and two-dimensional materials. This project expects to yield profound new knowledge of colour centres and new theoretical methods, experimental techniques and quantum devices. Expected outcomes are significant enhancements of ....Breaking barriers to high-performance room-temperature quantum technologies. This project aims to break the major barriers to realising high-performance quantum technologies that operate at room temperature by exploiting the unique properties of colour centres in diamond and two-dimensional materials. This project expects to yield profound new knowledge of colour centres and new theoretical methods, experimental techniques and quantum devices. Expected outcomes are significant enhancements of existing technologies, invention of novel two-dimensional technologies, and expanded domestic capability and international collaborations in quantum technology. These outcomes will benefit Australia by securing its global competitiveness in quantum industry and providing transformative tools to science, defence and industry.Read moreRead less
Memory and light for integrated quantum systems. Optical quantum information technologies have the potential to change the way we work and play, but there are problems to be overcome: we lack both a memory for quantum information and reliable light sources that can be integrated into quantum networks. This project addresses both these issues and will bring quantum technologies closer to market.
Selective area nano-epitaxy. A new major program will be initiated to investigate the epitaxial growth of certain semiconductor nanowires on patterned substrates, without the use of a catalyst. It will result in the ability to produce nanowires of high quality and uniformity. This will lead the way for new and advanced concept nanowire-based devices for future applications.