Dual Radar Studies of Sub-Auroral Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling. Benefits include:
- improved ability to observe, understand and predict space weather impacts on Australia's communications, navigation, and surveillance capabilities;
- support for specific Australian programs such as: the JORN the over-the-horizon radar coastal surveillance system; IPS Radio and Space Services space weather monitoring activities (TIGER is a key component of the Australian Space Weather Plan - Strategic Plan ....Dual Radar Studies of Sub-Auroral Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling. Benefits include:
- improved ability to observe, understand and predict space weather impacts on Australia's communications, navigation, and surveillance capabilities;
- support for specific Australian programs such as: the JORN the over-the-horizon radar coastal surveillance system; IPS Radio and Space Services space weather monitoring activities (TIGER is a key component of the Australian Space Weather Plan - Strategic Planning to 2010 and Beyond);
- continue to provide Australia with a central role in the multi-nation SuperDARN project that continues to pioneer new initiatives in successful network operations for scientific studies and for the development of space weather data products for monitoring agencies and other scientists.
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COUPLING OF SOLAR WIND ENERGY INTO THE EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT. We will investigate energy transfer from the solar wind to the Earth's space environment, and down to low altitudes. The coupling occurs via reconnection between geomagnetic and interplanetary field lines, ultra-low frequency waves, and momentum transfer. Signatures of these processes include perturbations in the ionosphere and the geomagnetic field and these will be examined using ionospheric radars and sounders (in Tasmania, Antarcti ....COUPLING OF SOLAR WIND ENERGY INTO THE EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT. We will investigate energy transfer from the solar wind to the Earth's space environment, and down to low altitudes. The coupling occurs via reconnection between geomagnetic and interplanetary field lines, ultra-low frequency waves, and momentum transfer. Signatures of these processes include perturbations in the ionosphere and the geomagnetic field and these will be examined using ionospheric radars and sounders (in Tasmania, Antarctica, Canada and Alaska) and magnetometers (Antarctica and Alaska). Space weather can profoundly affect satellite, radio and terrestrial communication networks and observations of the type described here are essential to the development of realistic space weather models.Read moreRead less
High-energy probes of dense matter and distorted spacetime. This is an ambitious but achievable program with the potential for results which will be highly significant to physicists worldwide. The expected outcomes have the potential to alter our understanding of fundamental physics, and will demonstrate that Australia's high-energy research ability is on par with the world's best. The techniques of X-ray astronomy are increasingly a standard part of the professional astronomer's toolkit, althou ....High-energy probes of dense matter and distorted spacetime. This is an ambitious but achievable program with the potential for results which will be highly significant to physicists worldwide. The expected outcomes have the potential to alter our understanding of fundamental physics, and will demonstrate that Australia's high-energy research ability is on par with the world's best. The techniques of X-ray astronomy are increasingly a standard part of the professional astronomer's toolkit, although Australia has a limited track record in recent years. The international collaborations that this project will build and maintain will help to improve access to, and utilisation of, multi-million dollar international satellite observatories by local observers.Read moreRead less
Fundamental Physics from Accreting Neutron Stars. This is a bold and novel program with the potential for results which will be highly significant to physicists worldwide. The expected outcomes will demonstrate that Australia's high-energy research ability is on par with the world's best. The techniques of X-ray astronomy are increasingly a standard part of the professional astronomer's toolkit, although Australia has a limited track record in recent years. This DP will boost the multiwavelength ....Fundamental Physics from Accreting Neutron Stars. This is a bold and novel program with the potential for results which will be highly significant to physicists worldwide. The expected outcomes will demonstrate that Australia's high-energy research ability is on par with the world's best. The techniques of X-ray astronomy are increasingly a standard part of the professional astronomer's toolkit, although Australia has a limited track record in recent years. This DP will boost the multiwavelength capability of local astronomers by attracting a talented postdoc with experience in X-ray astronomy to Australia, as well as supporting a broader effort to transfer such skills to local students and researchers.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0451713
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,605.00
Summary
Completion of the Tasman International Geospace Environment Radar (TIGER). TIGER is part of an international high frequency radar consortium (SuperDARN) studying the coupling of space weather processes to the ionosphere. This is critical for radio, navigation and surveillance networks. TIGER provides important new information because it extends the global radar coverage significantly equatorward, and it can be combined with other radars in Antarctica and Alaska. However, only one of the two T ....Completion of the Tasman International Geospace Environment Radar (TIGER). TIGER is part of an international high frequency radar consortium (SuperDARN) studying the coupling of space weather processes to the ionosphere. This is critical for radio, navigation and surveillance networks. TIGER provides important new information because it extends the global radar coverage significantly equatorward, and it can be combined with other radars in Antarctica and Alaska. However, only one of the two TIGER radars necessary to carry out these studies has been built. This proposal is for completion of the second radar, to be located in New Zealand. The US Air Force has already granted A$443k toward this project.Read moreRead less
High energy neutrino astrophysics together with accretion flows into black holes. Neutrinos are very weakly interacting elementary particles that are opening a new view on astrophysical objects such as supernovae and active galactic nuclei (neutrino astronomy). Studies of astrophysical neutrino production, propagation and terrestrial detection will be made. This will shed light on the astrophysics of the sources as well as probing propagation effects such as neutrino oscillations. A distinct pro ....High energy neutrino astrophysics together with accretion flows into black holes. Neutrinos are very weakly interacting elementary particles that are opening a new view on astrophysical objects such as supernovae and active galactic nuclei (neutrino astronomy). Studies of astrophysical neutrino production, propagation and terrestrial detection will be made. This will shed light on the astrophysics of the sources as well as probing propagation effects such as neutrino oscillations. A distinct programme will study a large discrepancy in the energy balance for matter accreting into a black hole. Previous work of Buzzi and Hines will be extended to investigate whether plasma wave energy carried into the black hole can explain the discrepancy. Read moreRead less
The Chemistry of the Milky Way: From Micro- to Macro-Physics. The physics of galaxy formation in the early Universe is driving the development of billion-dollar investments such as the Next Generation Space Telescope and the Square Kilometre Array. Our team is undertaking a complementary `near-field cosmology' approach, systematically deconstructing the one galaxy in the Universe for which exquisite chemical and kinematical `fingerprints' of its formation remain observable on an individual star ....The Chemistry of the Milky Way: From Micro- to Macro-Physics. The physics of galaxy formation in the early Universe is driving the development of billion-dollar investments such as the Next Generation Space Telescope and the Square Kilometre Array. Our team is undertaking a complementary `near-field cosmology' approach, systematically deconstructing the one galaxy in the Universe for which exquisite chemical and kinematical `fingerprints' of its formation remain observable on an individual star-by-star basis - our own Milky Way. The unique synergy between computational cosmology, galaxy evolution, and stellar nucleosynthesis, intrinsic to our team, allows Australia to be at the forefront of theoretical galaxy formation research, in addition to the leadership role the observational community already enjoys.Read moreRead less
Nucleosynthesis of low and intermediate mass stars: A study into the origin of the elements. Everything in our Solar System, including the Sun and all life on Earth, were created out of material forged long ago in fiery stellar furnaces. In the hot dense cores of long dead stars the material most vital to life was created. However, the stellar origin of many elements is unknown although we can make guesses, from observations of stars and by bringing together ideas from different scientific fiel ....Nucleosynthesis of low and intermediate mass stars: A study into the origin of the elements. Everything in our Solar System, including the Sun and all life on Earth, were created out of material forged long ago in fiery stellar furnaces. In the hot dense cores of long dead stars the material most vital to life was created. However, the stellar origin of many elements is unknown although we can make guesses, from observations of stars and by bringing together ideas from different scientific fields including astrophysics, nuclear physics and geochemistry. Using the latest theoretical techniques together with the most recent experimental data, it is possible to piece together the clues
to unravel the mystery of the origin of the elements.
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Calibrating Cosmology: The Near-Field Approach to Galaxy Formation. Understanding the formation and evolution of structure in the early Universe continues to elude astronomers. Studying these earliest epochs is the driver for billion-dollar investments like the Next Generation Space Telescope and the Square Kilometre Array (with Australia as a primary partner). Our complementary 'near-field cosmology' project is unique, blending strengths in computational cosmology, stellar nucleosynthesis, and ....Calibrating Cosmology: The Near-Field Approach to Galaxy Formation. Understanding the formation and evolution of structure in the early Universe continues to elude astronomers. Studying these earliest epochs is the driver for billion-dollar investments like the Next Generation Space Telescope and the Square Kilometre Array (with Australia as a primary partner). Our complementary 'near-field cosmology' project is unique, blending strengths in computational cosmology, stellar nucleosynthesis, and optical astronomy, to 'deconstruct' the formation history of the one galaxy with detailed chemical and kinematical information - our own Milky Way. Combining theory and observation, cosmology and nucleosynthesis, we will produce the template for galaxy formation, providing the anchor for 'far-field' cosmology.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775621
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,000.00
Summary
Mileura Widefield Array: A New Low Frequency Telescope. A new radio-quiet site for international radio astronomy is being developed at Mileura in Western Australia. We have constructed a low frequency test array on the site, and established that the site is excellent for radio astronomy. We plan to build a telescope which will observe the early universe, when stars and galaxies where first born. This will be the first telescope capable of this type of measurement of the early universe. In addi ....Mileura Widefield Array: A New Low Frequency Telescope. A new radio-quiet site for international radio astronomy is being developed at Mileura in Western Australia. We have constructed a low frequency test array on the site, and established that the site is excellent for radio astronomy. We plan to build a telescope which will observe the early universe, when stars and galaxies where first born. This will be the first telescope capable of this type of measurement of the early universe. In addition, the telescope will measure the solar wind, and its potential interactions with the earth.
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