Crossing quantum-classical boundaries in a single particle. This project is aimed at constructing and observing an individual quantum system that can exhibit chaotic behaviour under controllable conditions. It is a long-sought goal of modern physics that can become reality for the first time in the world, thanks to the unique availability in Australia of the most quantum-coherent single spin ever made and a long history of theoretical advances in the field. Turning a spin into a chaotic system w ....Crossing quantum-classical boundaries in a single particle. This project is aimed at constructing and observing an individual quantum system that can exhibit chaotic behaviour under controllable conditions. It is a long-sought goal of modern physics that can become reality for the first time in the world, thanks to the unique availability in Australia of the most quantum-coherent single spin ever made and a long history of theoretical advances in the field. Turning a spin into a chaotic system will uncover the true nature of the quantum-classical boundary, and verify whether an underlying classical chaotic dynamics ultimately influences the behaviour of quantum systems. It is expected that the discoveries made will illuminate the path towards the technological exploitation of increasingly complex quantum devices.Read moreRead less
The physics and biology of hearing in larval fish. Using the zebrafish model and an array of cutting-edge biophysics and neuroscience tools, this project aims to provide the first complete map of a functioning auditory system. This is significant because it has previously been impossible to study the brain at the levels of single cells, circuits, and brain-wide networks simultaneously. Expected outcomes include detailed descriptions of information flow through a simple brain and the ways that br ....The physics and biology of hearing in larval fish. Using the zebrafish model and an array of cutting-edge biophysics and neuroscience tools, this project aims to provide the first complete map of a functioning auditory system. This is significant because it has previously been impossible to study the brain at the levels of single cells, circuits, and brain-wide networks simultaneously. Expected outcomes include detailed descriptions of information flow through a simple brain and the ways that brain cells and circuits communicate to process information. Benefits include knowledge gained about sensory systems in nature, future biomimetic approaches for information processing, and the training of the next generation of Australian researchers in cutting edge optical physics and neuroscience.Read moreRead less
Decoherence in quantum computing and quantum electromechanical systems. Australia is one of the world leaders in fundamental studies and implementation of quantum computing and quantum electromechanical systems. By developing a framework to quantify and control noise due to decoherence in such systems, this research will facilitate progress in the development and understanding of quantum computing and quantum electromechanical devices. The project will also significantly strengthen the general r ....Decoherence in quantum computing and quantum electromechanical systems. Australia is one of the world leaders in fundamental studies and implementation of quantum computing and quantum electromechanical systems. By developing a framework to quantify and control noise due to decoherence in such systems, this research will facilitate progress in the development and understanding of quantum computing and quantum electromechanical devices. The project will also significantly strengthen the general representation of research on decoherence, a field of crucial importance to many areas of theoretical and experimental physics, in Australia. Funding of this project will enable Australia to further expand its leading position in cutting-edge science and next-generation technology.
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Development of a neutral helium beam microscope. This project would demonstrate Australia's capability in developing leading edge technologies applicable to the growing nanotechnology industry. The development of a neutral helium beam microscope brings into Australia expertise in the emerging field of molecular optics, and would place Australia as one of the first countries to make a commitment to this field. The project will develop a prototype instrument which is aimed at becoming a commercial ....Development of a neutral helium beam microscope. This project would demonstrate Australia's capability in developing leading edge technologies applicable to the growing nanotechnology industry. The development of a neutral helium beam microscope brings into Australia expertise in the emerging field of molecular optics, and would place Australia as one of the first countries to make a commitment to this field. The project will develop a prototype instrument which is aimed at becoming a commercially viable product - the neutral helium beam microscope. The possibilities of using the microscope system as a nanofabrication device would also give researchers in Australia the ability to fabricate structures that could not be manufactured anywhere else in the world.Read moreRead less
Chiral Catalysts by Rational Design. This project aims to integrate theory and experiment to design new catalysts for the synthesis of multi-stereocentre-containing molecules. Such molecules offer clear advantages in the area of drug design, owing to their potent and selective binding to biological targets, but a lack of available methods for their preparation currently limits their widespread use. This project will use theory to guide the discovery of new ways to make these molecules. It is exp ....Chiral Catalysts by Rational Design. This project aims to integrate theory and experiment to design new catalysts for the synthesis of multi-stereocentre-containing molecules. Such molecules offer clear advantages in the area of drug design, owing to their potent and selective binding to biological targets, but a lack of available methods for their preparation currently limits their widespread use. This project will use theory to guide the discovery of new ways to make these molecules. It is expected that detailed understanding of the factors that control stereocentre formation will be obtained from accurate theoretical modelling and will be applied to invent new catalysts that deliver improved performance and control over product structure.Read moreRead less
Beyond structure - solving conformational dynamics for intractable proteins. Proteins perform almost every task that enables the amazing complexity of cellular and whole organism physiology. These molecular machines perform this incredible array of tasks due to their ability to dynamically change shape. For the vast majority of these machines, we can only view a snapshot of the possible shapes they can adopt and can’t monitor how they change from one shape to another, which is critical for their ....Beyond structure - solving conformational dynamics for intractable proteins. Proteins perform almost every task that enables the amazing complexity of cellular and whole organism physiology. These molecular machines perform this incredible array of tasks due to their ability to dynamically change shape. For the vast majority of these machines, we can only view a snapshot of the possible shapes they can adopt and can’t monitor how they change from one shape to another, which is critical for their functioning. This project aims to develop and apply a completely new method to visualise dynamic changes in protein shape which is not possible with current techniques. This will allow us to provide a new description and understanding of the function of proteins, which is fundamental to all biology.Read moreRead less
Atomic scale imaging with high coherence electrons and ions. This project aims to combine a cold atom electron-ion source with a commercial microscope column for atomic-scale imaging in biosciences and materials science. Nanoscale imaging with electron and ion microscopy are tools for investigating the world at the atomic scale, underpinning development in modern technologies from semiconductor devices to medical treatments. This project will use ideas from laser cooling of atoms and atom optics ....Atomic scale imaging with high coherence electrons and ions. This project aims to combine a cold atom electron-ion source with a commercial microscope column for atomic-scale imaging in biosciences and materials science. Nanoscale imaging with electron and ion microscopy are tools for investigating the world at the atomic scale, underpinning development in modern technologies from semiconductor devices to medical treatments. This project will use ideas from laser cooling of atoms and atom optics to achieve new imaging modalities for time-lapse imaging of fundamental processes at the nano-scale. It will allow increasingly small scale resolution of fundamental processes at the nano-scale.Read moreRead less