Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100784
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Breaking through the barrier: a new approach to understanding quantum tunneling in nuclear fusion. Experiments have shown major failings of our best predictive model of nuclear fusion. This project will address these failings through a multifaceted research program which will develop and benchmark an enhanced quantum model and test for missing physics by conducting precision fusion measurements for carefully chosen reactions. This project will develop a new technique that exploits fission follow ....Breaking through the barrier: a new approach to understanding quantum tunneling in nuclear fusion. Experiments have shown major failings of our best predictive model of nuclear fusion. This project will address these failings through a multifaceted research program which will develop and benchmark an enhanced quantum model and test for missing physics by conducting precision fusion measurements for carefully chosen reactions. This project will develop a new technique that exploits fission following fusion to directly probe physical processes inside the fusion barrier, which are missing from current models. This integrated approach to fusion will allow us to better predict fusion cross sections, create new elements and exploit radioactive ion beams at new international facilities.Read moreRead less
Sulfur isotope fractionations in Earth evolution. Sulfur isotopes provide a unique window into the major events in Earth's history. Techniques have been developed for measuring all four sulfur isotopes, including the low abundance sulfur-36 (0.02 per cent) to 0.2 per mil, in situ for sulfides. This project will make innovative technological developments to the counting system to extend this capability to the lower count rates obtained from sulfates. This will open windows for research on proces ....Sulfur isotope fractionations in Earth evolution. Sulfur isotopes provide a unique window into the major events in Earth's history. Techniques have been developed for measuring all four sulfur isotopes, including the low abundance sulfur-36 (0.02 per cent) to 0.2 per mil, in situ for sulfides. This project will make innovative technological developments to the counting system to extend this capability to the lower count rates obtained from sulfates. This will open windows for research on processes occurring in the early solar system, atmospheric and hydrologic conditions in the Archean, ore-forming processes, and evolution of life on Earth. Read moreRead less
Reaching the superheavy elements: a quantitative understanding through integrating new reaction time measurements with theoretical models. The project will develop new experimental methods to give unique insights into the interplay of quantum effects in nuclear fusion reactions forming heavy elements. The results will guide theoretical model developments to enhance understanding, and predict optimal opportunities to form new elements and isotopes with future rare isotope accelerators.
Mapping the microscopic pathway to dissipation in quantum nuclear collisions. Nuclear reactions power the universe and produce all the chemical elements, whose abundances are a sensitive probe of energetic cosmic events. Our new concepts and experiments will probe the boundaries of the quantum world, guide applications of international radioactive isotope accelerators and address the problem of lithium abundance in the cosmos.
Quantum enhancement of long baseline gravitational wave detectors. This project will design and construct a quantum optical system which when used in future long baseline gravitational wave detectors will enhance sensitivity across their detection frequency band, from 10 Hz to 10 kHz. This project will use this system on small scale optical sensors to prove the concept. In so doing, it will use squeezing to reduce quantum radiation pressure noise for the first time. This system will then be read ....Quantum enhancement of long baseline gravitational wave detectors. This project will design and construct a quantum optical system which when used in future long baseline gravitational wave detectors will enhance sensitivity across their detection frequency band, from 10 Hz to 10 kHz. This project will use this system on small scale optical sensors to prove the concept. In so doing, it will use squeezing to reduce quantum radiation pressure noise for the first time. This system will then be ready for deployment on an early upgrade of Advanced LIGO increasing the science output of this detector, turning gravitational wave detection into gravitational wave astronomy.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR120200004
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$30,000,000.00
Summary
Australian Synchrotron Access Program. The Australian Synchrotron epitomises scientific research excellence in Australian and New Zealand. Its impact spans nearly every research sector. This proposal brings together over 30 Australian universities working together to ensure that world-class peer-reviewed science continues to be performed at the Australian Synchrotron.
Probing the limits of Gravitational Force Sensing. This project will develop innovative laser measurement topologies for probing the limits of gravitational force sensing. Of particular interest is the detection of gravitational waves from astrophysical sources. Technology developed in this project will be able to see gravitational forces from slow moving mass at great distances away. Implementation of this technology will enhance the terrestrial gravitational wave detectors to observe at lower ....Probing the limits of Gravitational Force Sensing. This project will develop innovative laser measurement topologies for probing the limits of gravitational force sensing. Of particular interest is the detection of gravitational waves from astrophysical sources. Technology developed in this project will be able to see gravitational forces from slow moving mass at great distances away. Implementation of this technology will enhance the terrestrial gravitational wave detectors to observe at lower frequencies. This project will ensure Australia's continued involvement in the international Advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Observatory) project and guarantee Australian participation in the first direct detection of gravitational waves.Read moreRead less
Quantum enhancement of gravitational wave astronomy. The project aims to design, build and test a long wavelength ‘squeezed vacuum’ source reducing quantum noise by more than a factor of 10 across the audio frequency band with long term stability and reliability. This quantum technology is one of three key areas of improvement planned for the gravitational wave detector, LIGO Voyager. The project will enhance the sensitivity and the reach of gravitational wave astronomy and cosmology, and improv ....Quantum enhancement of gravitational wave astronomy. The project aims to design, build and test a long wavelength ‘squeezed vacuum’ source reducing quantum noise by more than a factor of 10 across the audio frequency band with long term stability and reliability. This quantum technology is one of three key areas of improvement planned for the gravitational wave detector, LIGO Voyager. The project will enhance the sensitivity and the reach of gravitational wave astronomy and cosmology, and improve the fidelity and reach of gravitational wave observations. Technologies developed may find application in other areas of precision measurements and gravitational wave observations .Read moreRead less
Ultrasensitive single atom-counting for astrophysics and nuclear technology. This project aims to study nuclear reactions identified as highest priority by United States and European working groups. This project addresses a wide range of applications that are critical to society, the generation of energy (nuclear fusion, fission, advanced nuclear systems), medical applications, national security and environmental applications. It addresses the fundamental question of where all the elements origi ....Ultrasensitive single atom-counting for astrophysics and nuclear technology. This project aims to study nuclear reactions identified as highest priority by United States and European working groups. This project addresses a wide range of applications that are critical to society, the generation of energy (nuclear fusion, fission, advanced nuclear systems), medical applications, national security and environmental applications. It addresses the fundamental question of where all the elements originate and will benefit the general community with qualified research in nuclear technology, non-proliferation, nuclear safeguards and through accelerator-based research relevant, for example, for hadron therapy.Read moreRead less