Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237527
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
Bioscope IV : Advanced Scanned Probe Microscopy. The Atomic Force Microscope presents a unique view of the microscopic and molecular world, for it is sensitive to force alone. This instrument can accurately map force over a surface at the molecular scale; picoNewtons at nanometre resolution. The host of intermolecular forces which cause phenomena such as self-assembly, colloid stability, cell interactions and friction are only directly measurable with this technique. In this field of force meas ....Bioscope IV : Advanced Scanned Probe Microscopy. The Atomic Force Microscope presents a unique view of the microscopic and molecular world, for it is sensitive to force alone. This instrument can accurately map force over a surface at the molecular scale; picoNewtons at nanometre resolution. The host of intermolecular forces which cause phenomena such as self-assembly, colloid stability, cell interactions and friction are only directly measurable with this technique. In this field of force measurement Australian researchers are leaders. The proposed instrument expands the capabilities of this effort, and develops exciting new directions including the direct manipulation of molecules through a novel feedback and control (haptic) interface.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989915
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$127,000.00
Summary
X-ray Nano-scale Coherence Facility. Australia is rapidly developing into a world leader for x-ray imaging. This position has been supported by leading research groups and more recently by the development of the Australian Synchrotron. This project will fill a vital missing link in the experimental capability of Australian researchers - a flexible facility that can provide a nanoscale x-ray source. This enhanced capability will lead to new developments in coherent imaging methods. These new meth ....X-ray Nano-scale Coherence Facility. Australia is rapidly developing into a world leader for x-ray imaging. This position has been supported by leading research groups and more recently by the development of the Australian Synchrotron. This project will fill a vital missing link in the experimental capability of Australian researchers - a flexible facility that can provide a nanoscale x-ray source. This enhanced capability will lead to new developments in coherent imaging methods. These new methods will be used in the study of biological systems, leading to better drug design as well as in the study of materials, leading to stronger and lighter components. Read moreRead less
The Evolution of Gas in Galaxy Groups. The evolution of gas in galaxy groups is poorly understood, but is crucial to understanding galaxy evolution. This project provides a training opportunity for a talented postdoc to conduct the first `multiwavelength census' of southern galaxy groups, perform simulations and make predictions of group properties at early times. We will better understand the evolutionary processes in groups and provide a `local anchor' for future surveys. The knowledge gained ....The Evolution of Gas in Galaxy Groups. The evolution of gas in galaxy groups is poorly understood, but is crucial to understanding galaxy evolution. This project provides a training opportunity for a talented postdoc to conduct the first `multiwavelength census' of southern galaxy groups, perform simulations and make predictions of group properties at early times. We will better understand the evolutionary processes in groups and provide a `local anchor' for future surveys. The knowledge gained will feed directly into the design of the future Square Kilometre Array, and raise Australia's profile in this $1B project. We exploit Australia's best astronomical facilities, and establish a new University-CSIRO collaboration.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0236657
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$210,000.00
Summary
Renewed Great Melbourne Telescope: Opening a Window on the Universe. We propose to refurbish the Great Melbourne Telescope (GMT) located at Mount Stromlo Observatory with a new state-of-the-art imager. This instrument will be available to the entire Australian Astronomical community, and will allow Australian researchers to undertake cutting edge research with this world leading two colour wide field imager. A fully automated observing and data reduction pipeline, a world first for a telescope o ....Renewed Great Melbourne Telescope: Opening a Window on the Universe. We propose to refurbish the Great Melbourne Telescope (GMT) located at Mount Stromlo Observatory with a new state-of-the-art imager. This instrument will be available to the entire Australian Astronomical community, and will allow Australian researchers to undertake cutting edge research with this world leading two colour wide field imager. A fully automated observing and data reduction pipeline, a world first for a telescope of this size, means astronomers can work on their data, analyzing everything from the Solar System, to the most distant objects in the Universe, rather than spending night after night at the telescope.Read moreRead less
Illuminating the Universe with Exploding Stars. We are using Exploding Stars (Supernovae and Gamma Ray Bursts) to measure fundamental properties of the Universe. We use Type Ia Supernovaeto trace the Expansion History of the Universe and learn about the nature of the Dark Energy which currently dominates the Universe. We use Gamma Ray Bursts to illuminate the gas in and around galaxies to measure the chemical composition and structure of the Early Universe.
Early Evolution of the Solar System: A Planetary Perspective. A geochemical study of early solar system materials will be conducted to investigate physical conditions leading to assembly of the terrestrial planets, and the chronology of early geological events that shaped the Earth and Moon. Objects from the solar nebula and samples from the Earth, Moon, Mars, and differentiated asteroids will be studied. This research will contribute toward understanding the astrophysical environment of the inn ....Early Evolution of the Solar System: A Planetary Perspective. A geochemical study of early solar system materials will be conducted to investigate physical conditions leading to assembly of the terrestrial planets, and the chronology of early geological events that shaped the Earth and Moon. Objects from the solar nebula and samples from the Earth, Moon, Mars, and differentiated asteroids will be studied. This research will contribute toward understanding the astrophysical environment of the inner solar system, establish a high-resolution absolute timescale for early geological events, and Identify the population of solid bodies present during the initial stages of planetary development.Read moreRead less
Lithic Astronomy: The age and origin of the elements and their incorporation in the solar nebula. All heavy elements are produced in stars. The signature of nucleosynthesis is the isotopic composition of the elements and thus measurement of isotopic compositions allows nuclear astrophysics to be elucidated in the laboratory. This project will examine the linkages between stellar sites and the material in our solar system through measurement of interstellar grains and other primitive material ob ....Lithic Astronomy: The age and origin of the elements and their incorporation in the solar nebula. All heavy elements are produced in stars. The signature of nucleosynthesis is the isotopic composition of the elements and thus measurement of isotopic compositions allows nuclear astrophysics to be elucidated in the laboratory. This project will examine the linkages between stellar sites and the material in our solar system through measurement of interstellar grains and other primitive material obtained from meteorites. A chronology of processes affecting the solar nebula will be determined through measurement of radionuclides. Th/U measurements in presolar grains could allow a view of galactic chemical evolution billions of years prior to the solar nebula.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882778
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$201,224.00
Summary
Water vapour radiometers for millimetre-wave phase correction for the Australia Telescope. Australia has a tradition of excellence in astronomy. Inspired by wonder about the cosmos, it stimulates public interest in science, so leading to the training of highly skilled graduates. In turn, this drives the development of technologies needed to pursue the science. The nation has invested in the technology for millimetre-wave astronomy, building the first interferometer in our hemisphere. This equipm ....Water vapour radiometers for millimetre-wave phase correction for the Australia Telescope. Australia has a tradition of excellence in astronomy. Inspired by wonder about the cosmos, it stimulates public interest in science, so leading to the training of highly skilled graduates. In turn, this drives the development of technologies needed to pursue the science. The nation has invested in the technology for millimetre-wave astronomy, building the first interferometer in our hemisphere. This equipment will capitalise on this investment, extending the capabilities of the Australia Telescope to maintain it as a front line instrument, attracting the best scientists here to use it. This will help nurture a vigorous radio-science community, one able to actively participate in the billion-dollar investment being made internationally in the field.Read moreRead less
Gravitational wave detection through millisecond pulsar timing. This project aims to detect gravitational waves (GWs) using precision pulsar timing observations. Direct detection of GWs is of huge international importance and would place Australia at the forefront of the new research field of GW astronomy. The project provides a link between current GW detection experiments and the GW astronomy that will become commonplace with future telescopes such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). It wil ....Gravitational wave detection through millisecond pulsar timing. This project aims to detect gravitational waves (GWs) using precision pulsar timing observations. Direct detection of GWs is of huge international importance and would place Australia at the forefront of the new research field of GW astronomy. The project provides a link between current GW detection experiments and the GW astronomy that will become commonplace with future telescopes such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). It will answer important questions in relativistic astrophysics, cosmology and planetary astronomy. The groundwork for SKA science proposed here will demonstrate Australian commitment to the SKA. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775546
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
Construction of the blue-arm of the ANU 2.3m telescope Wide-Field Spectrograph. The new blue and red arms of the WiFeS spectrograph on the SSO 2.3m telescope utilizes new optical techniques and advances in detector technology to provide unique capabilities for front-line research and student training. The novel integral field units on WiFeS extract spectra across the face of faint, distant galaxies enabling the dynamics of the stellar and gas content to be analysed in unprecedented detail. Anoth ....Construction of the blue-arm of the ANU 2.3m telescope Wide-Field Spectrograph. The new blue and red arms of the WiFeS spectrograph on the SSO 2.3m telescope utilizes new optical techniques and advances in detector technology to provide unique capabilities for front-line research and student training. The novel integral field units on WiFeS extract spectra across the face of faint, distant galaxies enabling the dynamics of the stellar and gas content to be analysed in unprecedented detail. Another important project will be to follow-up interesting objects discovered by the new SkyMapper telescope and establish those that need to be observed on 8 m telescopes such as Gemini, Magellan or VLT. Read moreRead less