A New Approach to the Structure of Atomic Nuclei. Starting at the quark level, we have derived a theory of nuclear structure, that in its initial application appears extremely successful. The aim of this project is to advance this revolutionary new approach to the theory of nuclear structure to the next level by exploring its predictions for a number of outstanding questions in modern nuclear physics. This includes the properties of superheavy nuclei, with atomic number beyond 100, including the ....A New Approach to the Structure of Atomic Nuclei. Starting at the quark level, we have derived a theory of nuclear structure, that in its initial application appears extremely successful. The aim of this project is to advance this revolutionary new approach to the theory of nuclear structure to the next level by exploring its predictions for a number of outstanding questions in modern nuclear physics. This includes the properties of superheavy nuclei, with atomic number beyond 100, including the potential existence of a new region of stability and complementing experimental searches underway internationally to discover the limits of stability with large neutron or proton excess, which is crucial to understanding the origin of the elements and may contribute new energy related technology.Read moreRead less
Pure and applied nuclear structure research with radioactive ion beams at Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU). The structure of exotic neutron-rich nuclei will be investigated at the Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) radioactive ion beam facility using new and novel detector systems. The results will enhance our fundamental understanding of the atomic nucleus and stellar nucleosynthesis as well as provide important data for the development of next generation nuclear reactor ....Pure and applied nuclear structure research with radioactive ion beams at Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU). The structure of exotic neutron-rich nuclei will be investigated at the Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) radioactive ion beam facility using new and novel detector systems. The results will enhance our fundamental understanding of the atomic nucleus and stellar nucleosynthesis as well as provide important data for the development of next generation nuclear reactors.Read moreRead less
Branes and unification. This project will explore theories which hypothesis that our universe is a 3-dimensional mem-(brane) residing in higher dimensional space. We will construct completely realistic theories and find ways to test them experimentally. This project is at the forefront of international developments in our understanding of the universe - an area that has grown in importance following the construction of the Large Hadron Collider at the European Giant accelerator laboraroty. The p ....Branes and unification. This project will explore theories which hypothesis that our universe is a 3-dimensional mem-(brane) residing in higher dimensional space. We will construct completely realistic theories and find ways to test them experimentally. This project is at the forefront of international developments in our understanding of the universe - an area that has grown in importance following the construction of the Large Hadron Collider at the European Giant accelerator laboraroty. The project will expose postgraduate students to exciting developments in this fascinating field pf physics.Read moreRead less
Particle physics and cosmology of neutrinos. Neutrinos are a particularly interesting class of elementary particle. The Standard Model of particle physics sees neutrinos as having exactly zero mass. However, recent experimental data have all but demonstrated that massless neutrinos are inconsistent with observations. If neutrinos have mass, then quantum mechanics allows them to oscillate between the different neutrino types as they propagate through space. Nonzero neutrino masses and the associa ....Particle physics and cosmology of neutrinos. Neutrinos are a particularly interesting class of elementary particle. The Standard Model of particle physics sees neutrinos as having exactly zero mass. However, recent experimental data have all but demonstrated that massless neutrinos are inconsistent with observations. If neutrinos have mass, then quantum mechanics allows them to oscillate between the different neutrino types as they propagate through space. Nonzero neutrino masses and the associated oscillations lead to important new physics in the elementary particle domain and in cosmology. This project will explore the implications of neutrino oscillations in diverse areas in particle physics and cosmology.Read moreRead less
An Australian Program in Precision Flavour Physics. Particle physics is a breakthrough scientific endeavour, addressing fundamental questions about the nature of the laws that govern the Universe we live in. Through engaging in appropriately chosen collaborative experiments at the cutting edge of the field, Australian science can make leading contributions to a deepening understanding that flows from discoveries in this area. Excellent training of young Australian researchers, enhancement of pub ....An Australian Program in Precision Flavour Physics. Particle physics is a breakthrough scientific endeavour, addressing fundamental questions about the nature of the laws that govern the Universe we live in. Through engaging in appropriately chosen collaborative experiments at the cutting edge of the field, Australian science can make leading contributions to a deepening understanding that flows from discoveries in this area. Excellent training of young Australian researchers, enhancement of public interest in science, and fostering of international cooperation and networking are all outcomes which this project will provide.Read moreRead less
The Origin of Mass at the Large Hadron Collider. The Large Hadron Collider is an enormous worldwide effort to understand the building blocks of the Universe. This project will help strengthen world-class research capacity in one of the most exciting frontiers of basic research. It will excite more high-achieving students to pursue careers in science increasing the number of talented graduates in Australia. In addition the big fundamental questions addressed in this research are of great fascin ....The Origin of Mass at the Large Hadron Collider. The Large Hadron Collider is an enormous worldwide effort to understand the building blocks of the Universe. This project will help strengthen world-class research capacity in one of the most exciting frontiers of basic research. It will excite more high-achieving students to pursue careers in science increasing the number of talented graduates in Australia. In addition the big fundamental questions addressed in this research are of great fascination to the general public and will help to further advance the public education of science.Read moreRead less
Origin of the Mass. A hundred metres below ground, under the French-Swiss border, scientists are preparing to travel back in time to study matter as it was in the first fractions of a second after the beginning of the Universe. They are building the world's largest scientific instrument to help reveal how this primordial matter developed into the building blocks that form the great diversity of today. Australian physicists are preparing to extract the few fundamental particles that will explain ....Origin of the Mass. A hundred metres below ground, under the French-Swiss border, scientists are preparing to travel back in time to study matter as it was in the first fractions of a second after the beginning of the Universe. They are building the world's largest scientific instrument to help reveal how this primordial matter developed into the building blocks that form the great diversity of today. Australian physicists are preparing to extract the few fundamental particles that will explain the origin of the mass from the debris of billions of proton collisions. While solving the major issue confronting particle physics today, we will train students who will subsequently apply their skills in fields as diverse as science, medicine, industry and finance.Read moreRead less
Frontiers of Theoretical Particle Physics. This project will involve PhD and other students, who will work at the frontiers of theoretical particle physics, which provides excellent training in model building and problem solving. They will serve the nation as physicists, but also as teachers, in the finance industry, in the public service and in think tanks, as our former students have done. The quest to understand the ultimate structure of matter has been a part of western culture for the las ....Frontiers of Theoretical Particle Physics. This project will involve PhD and other students, who will work at the frontiers of theoretical particle physics, which provides excellent training in model building and problem solving. They will serve the nation as physicists, but also as teachers, in the finance industry, in the public service and in think tanks, as our former students have done. The quest to understand the ultimate structure of matter has been a part of western culture for the last 2000 years or more. Media stories on this subject are popular, and our work will enable authoritative public outreach as the subject develops, and we find that our present understanding is not the complete story.Read moreRead less
The standard model of particle physics and beyond in the era of the Large Hadron Collider. This project will enhance the nation's intellectual culture and international standing through the study of original ideas about the nature of our universe. The advent of the Large Hadron Collider era, courtesy of the giant European accelerator laboratory called CERN, will revolutionise particle physics in the next few years. High achieving students are very excited by the research questions addressed in t ....The standard model of particle physics and beyond in the era of the Large Hadron Collider. This project will enhance the nation's intellectual culture and international standing through the study of original ideas about the nature of our universe. The advent of the Large Hadron Collider era, courtesy of the giant European accelerator laboratory called CERN, will revolutionise particle physics in the next few years. High achieving students are very excited by the research questions addressed in this proposal, so it will add significantly to the pool of highly-trained young Australians. They emerge as general problem solvers and flexible thinkers of high calibre in addition to becoming experts in particular areas. The big fundamental questions to be considered are also of great fascination to the general public.Read moreRead less
Superdeformed nuclei and their decay: challenging nuclear models and probing quantum tunnelling. Nuclear superdeformation, where the atomic nucleus adopts an elongated, ellipsoidal shape and can undergo rapid rotation, offers a fascinating opportunity to study quantum mechanical effects in a system where single-particle and collective regimes overlap. The superdeformed shape itself is a spectacular example of collective motion in a mesoscopic system, while the rapid change to a sperhical shape ....Superdeformed nuclei and their decay: challenging nuclear models and probing quantum tunnelling. Nuclear superdeformation, where the atomic nucleus adopts an elongated, ellipsoidal shape and can undergo rapid rotation, offers a fascinating opportunity to study quantum mechanical effects in a system where single-particle and collective regimes overlap. The superdeformed shape itself is a spectacular example of collective motion in a mesoscopic system, while the rapid change to a sperhical shape is an excellent example of quantum-assisted tunnelling. The results of this project will shed light on this important process and provide a stringent test of our understanding of the nucleus.Read moreRead less