Scanning Probe Microscopy for Fabrication and Analysis of Polymer Photovoltaics. Australian economic growth will depend increasingly on the provision of devices using materials designed at the molecular level. Scanning probe microscopy, which uses tips placed very close to surfaces to analyse or modify the surfaces with molecular precision, is an indispensible tool in designing such materials. In this project, scanning probe microscopy will be used to analyse and build structures on polymer sola ....Scanning Probe Microscopy for Fabrication and Analysis of Polymer Photovoltaics. Australian economic growth will depend increasingly on the provision of devices using materials designed at the molecular level. Scanning probe microscopy, which uses tips placed very close to surfaces to analyse or modify the surfaces with molecular precision, is an indispensible tool in designing such materials. In this project, scanning probe microscopy will be used to analyse and build structures on polymer solar cells in order to maximise the efficiency of the cells and build prototype nanoscale polymer devices. This will lead to the improvement in devices delivering sustainable energy production - a technology which has the promise of producing energy cheaply from sunlight.Read moreRead less
First-Principles Engineering of Advanced Multicomponent Materials for Clean, Energy Efficient Thermoelectric and Catalytic Technologies. The quantum mechanical, first-principles calculations for studying advanced multicomponent materials and surfaces of high current technological interest will produce significant results as well as fundamental knowledge of key mechanisms that will aid in the design and tailoring of new catalytic and thermoelectric materials. The project is directly relevant to ....First-Principles Engineering of Advanced Multicomponent Materials for Clean, Energy Efficient Thermoelectric and Catalytic Technologies. The quantum mechanical, first-principles calculations for studying advanced multicomponent materials and surfaces of high current technological interest will produce significant results as well as fundamental knowledge of key mechanisms that will aid in the design and tailoring of new catalytic and thermoelectric materials. The project is directly relevant to the designated priority area - Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. It will involve collaboration with leading international experts, thus enhancing Australia's knowledge base and research capacity. This clearly has immediate benefits through the transfer and propagation of cutting-edge knowledge and skills to students and post-docs.Read moreRead less
Many-body problems. The discovery of new superheavy elements, chemical evolution of the Universe, nuclear reactions deep under the Coulomb barrier in nuclear reactors, in stars and during the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, accuracy of precise atomic clocks, consistency of the Standard Model in strong fields are among the most vital problems of modern science. This project suggests several new ideas in these areas, which are based on knowledge accumulated in different research fields. The outcomes of ....Many-body problems. The discovery of new superheavy elements, chemical evolution of the Universe, nuclear reactions deep under the Coulomb barrier in nuclear reactors, in stars and during the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, accuracy of precise atomic clocks, consistency of the Standard Model in strong fields are among the most vital problems of modern science. This project suggests several new ideas in these areas, which are based on knowledge accumulated in different research fields. The outcomes of the research will help Australia to build up a "critical mass" of scientific expertise, which is necessary to place and keep it among leaders in these frontier areas of physics, and to train the next generation of experts in these fields.Read moreRead less
Modelling quantum dynamics of electronic excited states in complex molecular materials. Understanding new materials that are the basis of new sources of renewable energy sources represents a major scientific challenge. Many of these materials are composed of large organic molecules containing hundreds of atoms. Their properties and the concepts needed to understand these materials are distinctly different from semiconductors such as silicon. This research will enhance our ability to design bett ....Modelling quantum dynamics of electronic excited states in complex molecular materials. Understanding new materials that are the basis of new sources of renewable energy sources represents a major scientific challenge. Many of these materials are composed of large organic molecules containing hundreds of atoms. Their properties and the concepts needed to understand these materials are distinctly different from semiconductors such as silicon. This research will enhance our ability to design better materials and optimize the performance of organic solar cells and LEDs. Australia's capacity for research and development in this scientifically challenging and technologically important field will be enhanced by this project. Read moreRead less
Atomic tests of unification theories. Although the standard model of particle physics has withstood decades of intensive experimental tests, it is widely believed to be merely a low-energy manifestation of a "true" theory that unifies the four forces of nature. While some searches for new physics beyond the standard model are performed at high-energy particle accelerators, a very sensitive probe can be done at low energies in atomic and molecular measurements of weak interaction effects. This pr ....Atomic tests of unification theories. Although the standard model of particle physics has withstood decades of intensive experimental tests, it is widely believed to be merely a low-energy manifestation of a "true" theory that unifies the four forces of nature. While some searches for new physics beyond the standard model are performed at high-energy particle accelerators, a very sensitive probe can be done at low energies in atomic and molecular measurements of weak interaction effects. This project is devoted to a theoretical investigation of weak interaction effects in atoms, molecules, and nuclei. It will provide improved tests of unified theories.Read moreRead less
Atomic clocks, space-time variation of fundamental constants, violation of fundamental symmetries and tests of unification theories. The project will help to establish Australia among the leaders in important areas of modern science: tests of theories unifying all physical forces and cosmology, search for variation of the fundamental forces of Nature and making super precise atomic clocks. The atomic clocks are used in all navigation (current GPS and future Galileo) systems and many other import ....Atomic clocks, space-time variation of fundamental constants, violation of fundamental symmetries and tests of unification theories. The project will help to establish Australia among the leaders in important areas of modern science: tests of theories unifying all physical forces and cosmology, search for variation of the fundamental forces of Nature and making super precise atomic clocks. The atomic clocks are used in all navigation (current GPS and future Galileo) systems and many other important applications. The training of students and researchers combined with a rich international collaborative program will insure that Australia is well placed to prepare for the approaching revolution in physics and cosmology.Read moreRead less
Violation of fundamental symmetries and test of unification models. This project is devoted to a theoretical investigation of the atomic and nuclear effects of parity and time invariance violation. Measurements of these effects provide accurate tests of unification theories of elementary particles. Effects of weak interactions are normally very small, and we want to look for possibilities to enhance these effects. We also plan to search for new effects and tests of the unification theories an ....Violation of fundamental symmetries and test of unification models. This project is devoted to a theoretical investigation of the atomic and nuclear effects of parity and time invariance violation. Measurements of these effects provide accurate tests of unification theories of elementary particles. Effects of weak interactions are normally very small, and we want to look for possibilities to enhance these effects. We also plan to search for new effects and tests of the unification theories and develop accurate method of atomic calculations.Read moreRead less
Test of unification theories in atomic and nuclear phenomena. This project will help to establish Australia among the leaders in important areas of modern science: tests of models unifying all physical forces and search for variation of fundamental constants of Nature. It may help to create new theory unifying physics and cosmology, and may reveal hypothetical extra dimensions in our Universe, or many different sub-Universes. The training of students and researchers combined with a rich interna ....Test of unification theories in atomic and nuclear phenomena. This project will help to establish Australia among the leaders in important areas of modern science: tests of models unifying all physical forces and search for variation of fundamental constants of Nature. It may help to create new theory unifying physics and cosmology, and may reveal hypothetical extra dimensions in our Universe, or many different sub-Universes. The training of students and researchers combined with a rich international collaborative program will ensure that Australia is well-placed to prepare for the approaching revolution in physics and cosmology. Read moreRead less
Novel effects of metamaterials on propagation and localisation of electromagnetic waves in photonic crystal structures. Australian science enjoys a long tradition of success and leadership in optical physics and, presently, Australia ranks amongst the leaders in nanophotonics. In order to maintain its position in a highly competitive field, new device designs, based on research into new concepts and new materials, is needed. This project explores the exciting new field of mixed media systems c ....Novel effects of metamaterials on propagation and localisation of electromagnetic waves in photonic crystal structures. Australian science enjoys a long tradition of success and leadership in optical physics and, presently, Australia ranks amongst the leaders in nanophotonics. In order to maintain its position in a highly competitive field, new device designs, based on research into new concepts and new materials, is needed. This project explores the exciting new field of mixed media systems comprising composite structures made from normal and meta-materials. It will deliver fundamental understanding of these systems and will explore potential new device applications based on this, in addition to enhancing research training needed to enhance Australia's international reputation in frontier technologies.Read moreRead less
Improving optical data storage and micromachining technology through better modelling and characterisation of their laser beams. The laser sources generally do not have simple (Gaussian) distributions. The applicant has recently developed a model, describing free propagation of complex (non-Gaussian) laser beams. This project seeks to develop a comprehending model for laser beams propagation through complex optical systems. The effects of various optical elements will be defined employing a no ....Improving optical data storage and micromachining technology through better modelling and characterisation of their laser beams. The laser sources generally do not have simple (Gaussian) distributions. The applicant has recently developed a model, describing free propagation of complex (non-Gaussian) laser beams. This project seeks to develop a comprehending model for laser beams propagation through complex optical systems. The effects of various optical elements will be defined employing a novel method known as SAFE (Stable Aggregate of Flexible Elements) which is a compromise between geometrical and physical optics. Applying this model to micromachining and optical data storage (ODS), which need high beam quality (low divergence and good focussibility), enable accurate predictive capability critical to the optimisation of micromachining and ODS designs.Read moreRead less