Simulating chemical reactions on quantum computers. This project aims to enable a new capability for simulating practically relevant chemical dynamics and reactivity in regimes where conventional computational chemistry fails. It expects to do so by generating an extensive toolbox of quantum algorithms that would allow quantum computers to carry out otherwise intractable simulations of a wide range of chemical processes using existing quantum devices. As quantum technology matures, these algorit ....Simulating chemical reactions on quantum computers. This project aims to enable a new capability for simulating practically relevant chemical dynamics and reactivity in regimes where conventional computational chemistry fails. It expects to do so by generating an extensive toolbox of quantum algorithms that would allow quantum computers to carry out otherwise intractable simulations of a wide range of chemical processes using existing quantum devices. As quantum technology matures, these algorithms should enable quantum computers to accelerate computational screening of new chemical processes in a wide range of fields, enabling faster discovery of, for example, improved catalysts, batteries, medicines, fuels, and solar cells.Read moreRead less
Rational materials design: gas adsorption in porous crystals. This project aims to develop new, general theoretical methods to accurately describe gas adsorption in porous crystals. These will be combined with novel quantum formalisms, allowing the accurate calculation of thermochemical properties of adsorbed gases. The anticipated goals of this project are the design of new materials with enhanced gas storage and separation capabilities, with an emphasis on carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen ....Rational materials design: gas adsorption in porous crystals. This project aims to develop new, general theoretical methods to accurately describe gas adsorption in porous crystals. These will be combined with novel quantum formalisms, allowing the accurate calculation of thermochemical properties of adsorbed gases. The anticipated goals of this project are the design of new materials with enhanced gas storage and separation capabilities, with an emphasis on carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen adsorption. The benefits of this project are in the application of these materials to pressing energy and environmental concerns.Read moreRead less
Shifting the trend in radical battery research . The project aims to address a growing problem of increasing energy consumption by storing intermittent energy from the sun in affordable and efficient flow batteries. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of materials science and battery research by using innovative theoretical chemistry approaches to studying electrochemical properties of nitroxide radicals in ionic media. The project aims to develop radical organic flow batt ....Shifting the trend in radical battery research . The project aims to address a growing problem of increasing energy consumption by storing intermittent energy from the sun in affordable and efficient flow batteries. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of materials science and battery research by using innovative theoretical chemistry approaches to studying electrochemical properties of nitroxide radicals in ionic media. The project aims to develop radical organic flow batteries by utilising ionic liquids to stabilise radicals. Intended outcomes of the project include improved efficiency of flow batteries that can store energy from widely used solar panels. This should provide significant benefits to Australia’s effort to switch to renewable energy technologies. Read moreRead less
Unravelling the dominant drivers of ion specificity. This project aims to understand what governs the sensitivity of many technological and biological processes to the precise nature of the salt present in solution. The term ‘ion-specific’ encompasses all the circumstances in which the influence of a salt in solution depends on the precise chemical nature of the salt, not just the electrical charge on the ions that form the salt. As such, ion-specific effects abound and have important consequenc ....Unravelling the dominant drivers of ion specificity. This project aims to understand what governs the sensitivity of many technological and biological processes to the precise nature of the salt present in solution. The term ‘ion-specific’ encompasses all the circumstances in which the influence of a salt in solution depends on the precise chemical nature of the salt, not just the electrical charge on the ions that form the salt. As such, ion-specific effects abound and have important consequences in most situations involving solutions, including cellular functions and battery technology. This project will enable us to understand and control the influence of specific ions, building on our recently described fundamental ion-specific series with colloid science experiments and quantum simulations. This project should overcome current challenges in predicting ion-specific effects leading to progress in a wide variety of applications of colloid and interface science, from sensor interfaces to self-assembly.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100053
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,710.00
Summary
Computational Discovery & Design of New Catalytic Halogenophilic Reactions. Computational chemistry will be used to discover and predict new halogenophilic (halogeno = halogen; philic = like) substitution reactions (SN2X) catalysed by positively charged (cationic) catalysts. SN2X is a less known substitution reaction compared to accepted textbook nucleophilic (nucleo = electron-rich) substitution reactions. This proposal capitalises on previous theoretical-experimental understanding of a cation- ....Computational Discovery & Design of New Catalytic Halogenophilic Reactions. Computational chemistry will be used to discover and predict new halogenophilic (halogeno = halogen; philic = like) substitution reactions (SN2X) catalysed by positively charged (cationic) catalysts. SN2X is a less known substitution reaction compared to accepted textbook nucleophilic (nucleo = electron-rich) substitution reactions. This proposal capitalises on previous theoretical-experimental understanding of a cation-catalysed SN2X to develop new chemical reactions using SN2X synthetic strategies to access difficult-to-make molecules of potential medicinal relevance with heavily substituted carbon-carbon and carbon heteroatom bonds. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101272
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,000.00
Summary
Giving quantum systems a voice: quantum optoacoustics on a nanoscale. This project aims to build a complete and scalable platform for the new paradigm of quantum acoustics, ready for immediate deployment as a critical component of a hybrid quantum computing architecture. Using a combination of theoretical techniques at the boundary of quantum physics, nanoscale electromagnetism, classical theory of elasticity, and advanced numerical methods, I will design a complete suite of quantum acoustic dev ....Giving quantum systems a voice: quantum optoacoustics on a nanoscale. This project aims to build a complete and scalable platform for the new paradigm of quantum acoustics, ready for immediate deployment as a critical component of a hybrid quantum computing architecture. Using a combination of theoretical techniques at the boundary of quantum physics, nanoscale electromagnetism, classical theory of elasticity, and advanced numerical methods, I will design a complete suite of quantum acoustic devices and protocols to enable interfacing between state-of-the-art quantum devices. This project will strengthen the leading position of Australian researchers in the race towards quantum technologies by offering practical solutions to a critical bottleneck in designing large-scale quantum technologies.Read moreRead less
Heisenberg-limited lasers: building the revolution. The project aims to design and build a revolutionary new type of laser based on the ground-breaking 2020 Nature Physics paper by the two Chief Investigators. The significance of this work is that it overturns 60 years of theory about the limits to laser coherence, by applying 21st century quantum theory and quantum technology to the problem. This project expects to greatly advance the theory and, by instigating a collaboration with world-leadin ....Heisenberg-limited lasers: building the revolution. The project aims to design and build a revolutionary new type of laser based on the ground-breaking 2020 Nature Physics paper by the two Chief Investigators. The significance of this work is that it overturns 60 years of theory about the limits to laser coherence, by applying 21st century quantum theory and quantum technology to the problem. This project expects to greatly advance the theory and, by instigating a collaboration with world-leading experimentalists working with superconducting quantum devices, to demonstrate a laser with coherence beyond what was thought possible. Benefits of the project should flow from the manifold applications for highly coherent radiation, including scaling up superconducting quantum computing.Read moreRead less
Performing cold microwave measurements with warm diamonds. Detecting weak microwave signals at room temperature is an exceptionally difficult task, due to the excessive thermal microwave noise that exists all around us. At present, the best microwave receivers must be cooled to cryogenic temperatures, restricting their widespread use. This project aims to apply diamond-based quantum technologies to achieve unprecedented microwave signal detection sensitivities with a room-temperature setup, prov ....Performing cold microwave measurements with warm diamonds. Detecting weak microwave signals at room temperature is an exceptionally difficult task, due to the excessive thermal microwave noise that exists all around us. At present, the best microwave receivers must be cooled to cryogenic temperatures, restricting their widespread use. This project aims to apply diamond-based quantum technologies to achieve unprecedented microwave signal detection sensitivities with a room-temperature setup, providing more accessible ultra-low noise detectors. The ability to measure weak microwave signals is crucial for a range of sectors and the results of this project are expected to have applications in defence (radar), space exploration (satellite communication), and fundamental research (spectroscopy).Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100144
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,154.00
Summary
Quantum-enabled super-resolution imaging. The aim is to design large scale, quantum-enabled imaging systems to boost the resolution of state-of-the-art instruments by three to five orders of magnitude. Using the toolbox of quantum information and quantum optics, the project expects to generate novel methods for 2D and 3D imaging, and precision measurements that can reach fundamental limits. Imaging is critical in much of today's research. The unparalleled resolution can benefit a broad range of ....Quantum-enabled super-resolution imaging. The aim is to design large scale, quantum-enabled imaging systems to boost the resolution of state-of-the-art instruments by three to five orders of magnitude. Using the toolbox of quantum information and quantum optics, the project expects to generate novel methods for 2D and 3D imaging, and precision measurements that can reach fundamental limits. Imaging is critical in much of today's research. The unparalleled resolution can benefit a broad range of scientific fields, the medical and the defence sector by resolving objects otherwise impossible. This project will strengthen Australia’s position as a world leader in quantum technologies by presenting solutions to overcome critical bottlenecks in imaging methods in the optical domain.Read moreRead less
A Space-Based Quantum Communications Platform using Continuous Variables. This work proposes to investigate a new space-borne platform capable of quantum communications with a terrestrial ground station. Different from existing space-borne quantum communication platforms, our new platform will be based on CV (Continuous Variable) technology and will integrate the ability to seamlessly switch to classical Free-Space Optical communications when channel conditions deem quantum communications are .... A Space-Based Quantum Communications Platform using Continuous Variables. This work proposes to investigate a new space-borne platform capable of quantum communications with a terrestrial ground station. Different from existing space-borne quantum communication platforms, our new platform will be based on CV (Continuous Variable) technology and will integrate the ability to seamlessly switch to classical Free-Space Optical communications when channel conditions deem quantum communications are too difficult. Currently no quantum satellite built on CV technology exists. Our research will produce a significant advance in an emerging technology space, and will allow Australia to take scientific leadership in an important aspect of ultra-secure communications from satellites.
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