Nanostructured Silicon-Based Tandem Solar Cells. The expected outcome from the project is a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cell that will significantly reduce the costs of generating electricity from sunlight. Solar cells are presently the world's most rapidly growing energy source, with Australians and Australian companies already major players in the associated rapidly expanding industry. Solar cells represent the most benign technology yet suggested for supplying the world's future ....Nanostructured Silicon-Based Tandem Solar Cells. The expected outcome from the project is a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cell that will significantly reduce the costs of generating electricity from sunlight. Solar cells are presently the world's most rapidly growing energy source, with Australians and Australian companies already major players in the associated rapidly expanding industry. Solar cells represent the most benign technology yet suggested for supplying the world's future energy needs. A cleaner environment in the future than would otherwise be likely is another expected outcome as is the creation of major new opportunities for Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of Multiscale Complex Systems. Australia has built a strong position in the science and applications of multiscale phenomena, especially in interdisciplinary fields. The project will advance this position in plasma and biomedical physics by making new discoveries, developing new methods of analyzing such systems, and applying them to achieve practical outcomes. It will underpin Australia's participation in NASA's $600M STEREO mission, and will lead to improved methods and technologies ....Dynamics of Multiscale Complex Systems. Australia has built a strong position in the science and applications of multiscale phenomena, especially in interdisciplinary fields. The project will advance this position in plasma and biomedical physics by making new discoveries, developing new methods of analyzing such systems, and applying them to achieve practical outcomes. It will underpin Australia's participation in NASA's $600M STEREO mission, and will lead to improved methods and technologies for brain function analysis and imaging, which will be commercialized via industry partnerships. It will contribute to national research goals, especially in Breakthrough Science, Frontier Technologies, Smart Information Use, and Promoting Innovation.Read moreRead less
Atomic-scale Devices in Silicon - the Ultimate Limit of Microelectronics. Miniaturisation is the driving force behind the microelectronics industry, but beyond 2015 there is no known route to reduce device sizes below 10nm. The Fellowship will launch a major new initiative for the fabrication of silicon electronic devices at the atomic-scale (0.1nm). The project will exploit recent advances in scanning probe techniques to develop smaller and faster conventional transistors, nanoscale integrated ....Atomic-scale Devices in Silicon - the Ultimate Limit of Microelectronics. Miniaturisation is the driving force behind the microelectronics industry, but beyond 2015 there is no known route to reduce device sizes below 10nm. The Fellowship will launch a major new initiative for the fabrication of silicon electronic devices at the atomic-scale (0.1nm). The project will exploit recent advances in scanning probe techniques to develop smaller and faster conventional transistors, nanoscale integrated circuits, and address device reproducibility at this scale. This will extend Australia's early lead in atomic-scale silicon electronics to the stage where interested industry partners can evaluate it commercially in a way that will maximise benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Atomic Electronics: Precompetitive Research for the Global Semiconductor Industry. The demonstration in Australia that electronic devices in silicon can be fabricated at the atomic-scale has provided a vision for global semiconductor manufacturers. By engaging with leading US companies to tackle the problems industry faces as it attempts to reach this scale, this Fellowship will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of growing world-wide research into atomic-scale electronics. Equally ....Atomic Electronics: Precompetitive Research for the Global Semiconductor Industry. The demonstration in Australia that electronic devices in silicon can be fabricated at the atomic-scale has provided a vision for global semiconductor manufacturers. By engaging with leading US companies to tackle the problems industry faces as it attempts to reach this scale, this Fellowship will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of growing world-wide research into atomic-scale electronics. Equally important, by anticipating the problems that electronic device manufacturers are currently facing, and will face over their long-term horizons, the proposed research seeks to provide Australia with a long-term opportunity to lift its involvement in the multi-trillion dollar global semiconductor industry.Read moreRead less
Silicon Photonics and Third Generation Photovoltaics. The Fellowship would be used to launch a major new initiative addressing one of the key challenges facing microelectronics, the incorporation of optical functions into high density silicon integrated circuits, as well as accelerating development of a "third" generation of photovoltaic solar cells using similar techniques. This third generation thin-film technology would be capable of fundamentally higher energy conversion efficiency than ear ....Silicon Photonics and Third Generation Photovoltaics. The Fellowship would be used to launch a major new initiative addressing one of the key challenges facing microelectronics, the incorporation of optical functions into high density silicon integrated circuits, as well as accelerating development of a "third" generation of photovoltaic solar cells using similar techniques. This third generation thin-film technology would be capable of fundamentally higher energy conversion efficiency than earlier generations, at low cost. In both cases, the targeted outcome over the period of the Fellowship is to develop technology to the stage where it can be commercially evaluated, in a way likely to maximise Australian benefits.Read moreRead less
The Origin and Evolution of Cosmic Magnetism. This research will significantly advance our understanding of structure and evolution in the Universe, in keeping with Australia's outstanding track record of astronomical discovery. This program will also train students and build research capacity in the frontier area of X-ray astronomy, in which Australia currently has limited expertise. The instrumentation and techniques to be developed will lead to innovative transfers of technology to fields su ....The Origin and Evolution of Cosmic Magnetism. This research will significantly advance our understanding of structure and evolution in the Universe, in keeping with Australia's outstanding track record of astronomical discovery. This program will also train students and build research capacity in the frontier area of X-ray astronomy, in which Australia currently has limited expertise. The instrumentation and techniques to be developed will lead to innovative transfers of technology to fields such as telecommunications and medical imaging. These new facilities will also serve as vital stepping stones to the Square Kilometre Array, a billion-dollar international project which promises enormous economic, engineering and scientific opportunities for Australia.Read moreRead less
Creation of functional surfaces for biodevices and aerospace applications. Polymers are poised to become the materials of choice for a host of applications because of their lightness, strength, ease of forming and biocompatibility. The major challenge lies in optimising their surfaces for each application. For biodevices in particular, the surfaces must support a range of complex and specific interactions. This project will create new polymer surface modifications through innovations in plasma s ....Creation of functional surfaces for biodevices and aerospace applications. Polymers are poised to become the materials of choice for a host of applications because of their lightness, strength, ease of forming and biocompatibility. The major challenge lies in optimising their surfaces for each application. For biodevices in particular, the surfaces must support a range of complex and specific interactions. This project will create new polymer surface modifications through innovations in plasma science and technology. The outcomes will be new surfaces for diagnostic arrays in medicine, biosensors and durable polymer surfaces for low earth orbit.Read moreRead less
Physics of Self-Organization: From Space Plasmas to Brain Dynamics. Nature displays intricate, self-organized structures and behaviors that often emerge from simple underlying rules. This project will explore and unify fundamental regimes of self-organization, and apply them to explain phenomena in space, plasma, and wave physics, including making key inputs to the international STEREO space mission. In a core initiative, sophisticated tools from these fields will be transfered and adapted to a ....Physics of Self-Organization: From Space Plasmas to Brain Dynamics. Nature displays intricate, self-organized structures and behaviors that often emerge from simple underlying rules. This project will explore and unify fundamental regimes of self-organization, and apply them to explain phenomena in space, plasma, and wave physics, including making key inputs to the international STEREO space mission. In a core initiative, sophisticated tools from these fields will be transfered and adapted to analyze self-organized brain dynamics, leading to the first self-consistent "working brain" model. The results of this innovation will be used to develop new imaging technologies, to probe brain function via the new windows they open, and to exploit them commercially.Read moreRead less
Ultrafast photonic integrated circuits: Unlocking the bandwidth. Australia's prosperity increasingly depends on its communications infrastructure and supporting technologies. We will develop optical technologies to deliver vast increases in bandwidth at low cost. This will be achieved by building a photonic integrated circuit from a breakthrough material that offers ultrafast all-optical switching capability. This infrastructure will be critical to almost all areas of Australian society: commerc ....Ultrafast photonic integrated circuits: Unlocking the bandwidth. Australia's prosperity increasingly depends on its communications infrastructure and supporting technologies. We will develop optical technologies to deliver vast increases in bandwidth at low cost. This will be achieved by building a photonic integrated circuit from a breakthrough material that offers ultrafast all-optical switching capability. This infrastructure will be critical to almost all areas of Australian society: commerce, personal communications, e-health and entertainment, and will improve the quality of life and the economic competitiveness of urban, rural and regional Australia. The outcomes will include the creation of spin-off companies to commercialise the optical technologies.Read moreRead less
Optical Semiconductors for next-generation lasers, optical processors, and integrated optical chips. We are on the verge of an optical processing revolution. The silicon industry evolved from valves to transistors and finally to processors - Optical processing is the next step in the evolution of lasers from gas to solid state, and ultimately to integrated optical chips. Australia had a significant lead in semiconductors during the 1970?s, but unfortunately lost this lead due to a lack of local ....Optical Semiconductors for next-generation lasers, optical processors, and integrated optical chips. We are on the verge of an optical processing revolution. The silicon industry evolved from valves to transistors and finally to processors - Optical processing is the next step in the evolution of lasers from gas to solid state, and ultimately to integrated optical chips. Australia had a significant lead in semiconductors during the 1970?s, but unfortunately lost this lead due to a lack of local market. The emergence of biotechnology and telecommunications offer strong local markets for this new integrated optical technology. This project aims to create a world-leading Research capability in Australia to drive the evolution of integrated optoelectronics, and provide a commercial path to create a leading Australian industry.Read moreRead less