Formation of Supermassive Black Holes. One of the most remarkable discoveries in astronomy is the observation that supermassive black holes, weighing as much as a billion suns, are found in the centers of galaxies, including our own Milky Way. Astronomers do not understand how these black holes came to be, or their role in the evolution of galaxies. This Discovery Project will address these issues by analysing data on supermassive black holes from the local and early universes. Black holes fasci ....Formation of Supermassive Black Holes. One of the most remarkable discoveries in astronomy is the observation that supermassive black holes, weighing as much as a billion suns, are found in the centers of galaxies, including our own Milky Way. Astronomers do not understand how these black holes came to be, or their role in the evolution of galaxies. This Discovery Project will address these issues by analysing data on supermassive black holes from the local and early universes. Black holes fascinate students both young and old. This Discovery Project will train a new generation of young Australian astronomers at the leading edge of astrophysics.
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Characterisation and Stability of Thin Electrowetting Films. Electrowetting is of importance to numerous industrial, biomedical and daily life settings such as microfluidic biopharmaceutical applications, coating technology, electronic displays, optical focusing devices, miniaturised chemical analysis systems for homeland security, etc. The work, aimed at generating an understanding of the complex hydrodynamic and physicochemical processes involved, is fundamental research having generic benefit ....Characterisation and Stability of Thin Electrowetting Films. Electrowetting is of importance to numerous industrial, biomedical and daily life settings such as microfluidic biopharmaceutical applications, coating technology, electronic displays, optical focusing devices, miniaturised chemical analysis systems for homeland security, etc. The work, aimed at generating an understanding of the complex hydrodynamic and physicochemical processes involved, is fundamental research having generic benefits to researchers in interfacial science, electrokinetics and microfluidics. The results will also be beneficial to industrial workers in providing engineering protocols for the development of these devices by identifying optimal conditions for fluid manipulation without prone-to-wear mechanical components. Read moreRead less
Functionalisation of boron nitride nanotubes: preparation, underlying mechanism and potential sensor applications. Building on Australian expertise in synthesis and characterisations of nanomaterials, this project will carry out comprehensive and systematic research in functionalisation of boron nitride nanotubes and explore their potential applications. The success of this project will enhance Australian international reputation in nanotechnology development and ensure our leading position in t ....Functionalisation of boron nitride nanotubes: preparation, underlying mechanism and potential sensor applications. Building on Australian expertise in synthesis and characterisations of nanomaterials, this project will carry out comprehensive and systematic research in functionalisation of boron nitride nanotubes and explore their potential applications. The success of this project will enhance Australian international reputation in nanotechnology development and ensure our leading position in this highly competitive area. The outcome of this project will promote the potentially functional applications of boron nitride nanotubes in various nanodevices and nanosensors. It will also offer trainings for Australia's future scientists and will further strengthen international scientific collaboration in these fields.Read moreRead less
From Nanosecond Timing to Nanohertz Gravitational Wave Detection. Radio pulsars are the collapsed cores of once-massive stars that are renowned for their exceptional rotational stability. Ever since their discovery Australia has played a prominent role in the discovery and monitoring of these enigmatic sources. The timing and discovery of millisecond pulsars is an area where Australia is a world leader. This programme will use a powerful new instrument on the Parkes radio telescope to search for ....From Nanosecond Timing to Nanohertz Gravitational Wave Detection. Radio pulsars are the collapsed cores of once-massive stars that are renowned for their exceptional rotational stability. Ever since their discovery Australia has played a prominent role in the discovery and monitoring of these enigmatic sources. The timing and discovery of millisecond pulsars is an area where Australia is a world leader. This programme will use a powerful new instrument on the Parkes radio telescope to search for the minute influence of gravitational waves from supermassive black hole binaries on the millisecond pulsars.Read moreRead less
Tailoring the optical properties of matter with Sol-Gel: innovative optical materials for 3D photonic crystals with complete photonic band-gap. The success of this project will allow for improvement of existing technologies in diverse fields, from optics to green energy production. Realization of 3D complete Photonic Band-Gap (PBG) structures is the first step toward full optic-based data processing systems, which will be one of the most revolutionary achievements in technology after introductio ....Tailoring the optical properties of matter with Sol-Gel: innovative optical materials for 3D photonic crystals with complete photonic band-gap. The success of this project will allow for improvement of existing technologies in diverse fields, from optics to green energy production. Realization of 3D complete Photonic Band-Gap (PBG) structures is the first step toward full optic-based data processing systems, which will be one of the most revolutionary achievements in technology after introduction of electronic-based processors. Improvement of energy conversion efficiency of existing solar cells and polymer-based solar cells will be achievable thanks to implementation of PhCs as high-reflective layers. The establishment of scaleable protocols for production of high quality materials for photonics will put Australia among the leading countries in the future photonic-devices market.Read moreRead less
Understanding the molecular mechanism of force generation in the bacterial flagellar motor. The proposed research will advance the knowledge about how the bacterial flagellar motor works, enabling scientists to learn more about nature's blueprint of a nanoscale engine. It will address the fundamental question of how bacterial cells convert electrochemical energy into mechanical energy of rotation. At present, the smallest artificial electric motor is still on a micro-, rather than nanoscale. Nan ....Understanding the molecular mechanism of force generation in the bacterial flagellar motor. The proposed research will advance the knowledge about how the bacterial flagellar motor works, enabling scientists to learn more about nature's blueprint of a nanoscale engine. It will address the fundamental question of how bacterial cells convert electrochemical energy into mechanical energy of rotation. At present, the smallest artificial electric motor is still on a micro-, rather than nanoscale. Nanotechnology would therefore benefit from this work by basing their designs on the principles behind the mechanism of the bacterial motor. This research is also of interest for veterinary science, as motility by flagellar motor is a key virulence factor of common animal pathogens associated with, for example, listeriosis and gastroenteritis.Read moreRead less
Quantum Spectra. Fundamental quantum processes will play a key role in emerging technologies in the twenty-first century across diverse industries including quantum information technology, quantum computers and electronics, quantum optics, nanoscale quantum microscopes and superconductor technology. Australia has a strong base of expertise in the underpinning quantum disciplines. This project in strategic basic research within mathematical physics will develop a comprehensive and consistent math ....Quantum Spectra. Fundamental quantum processes will play a key role in emerging technologies in the twenty-first century across diverse industries including quantum information technology, quantum computers and electronics, quantum optics, nanoscale quantum microscopes and superconductor technology. Australia has a strong base of expertise in the underpinning quantum disciplines. This project in strategic basic research within mathematical physics will develop a comprehensive and consistent mathematical description of quantum processes. This research will lead to a deeper understanding of quantum processes, keep Australia at the leading edge of international developments and increase Australia's capacity to develop and implement these new technologies.Read moreRead less
Nano-Engineering of Optical Fibre Fresnel Lenses. It is expected that the development of the Fresnel Lens Fibre will greatly enhance the simplicity with which fibres can be integrated into a variety of systems. An intrinsically focussing fibre will be cheap to produce and have significant size advantages over its competitors, thus giving it an excellent competitive advantage in the market place. Australia is home to a number of companies that would directly benefit from the commercialisation of ....Nano-Engineering of Optical Fibre Fresnel Lenses. It is expected that the development of the Fresnel Lens Fibre will greatly enhance the simplicity with which fibres can be integrated into a variety of systems. An intrinsically focussing fibre will be cheap to produce and have significant size advantages over its competitors, thus giving it an excellent competitive advantage in the market place. Australia is home to a number of companies that would directly benefit from the commercialisation of a Fresnel Lens Fibre. In addition to a range of possible telecommunications applications, the focussing fibre also has applications in spectroscopy, minimally invasive surgical procedures, and especially in the field of photodynamic therapy. Read moreRead less
Template-Directed Growth and Assembly of Nanoscale Graphitic Carbon Structures. The various nanometre-scale forms of graphitic carbon have been strong candidates for use as novel building blocks in electronic, opto-electronic and electro-mechanical devices. However, their development has been hampered by a lack of control of the type, quality and homogeneity of structures produced by conventional methods.
This project aims to fabricate and characterise thin films of ordered, high-quality carbon ....Template-Directed Growth and Assembly of Nanoscale Graphitic Carbon Structures. The various nanometre-scale forms of graphitic carbon have been strong candidates for use as novel building blocks in electronic, opto-electronic and electro-mechanical devices. However, their development has been hampered by a lack of control of the type, quality and homogeneity of structures produced by conventional methods.
This project aims to fabricate and characterise thin films of ordered, high-quality carbon nanostructures. A novel synthesis route, involving the controlled deposition of carbon onto template substrates, is proposed. The products will be studied with near-atomic resolution to understand their formation mechanisms, and hence approach the goal of elaborating carbon-based nanodevices.
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Applying advanced synchrotron radiation-based techniques to determine the connection between the geometric and electronic structure of semiconductor nanocrystals. As the dimensions of nanocrystals become small unique optical and electronic properties are observed, forming the basis of many new technologies. The properties of interest depend on the fine-scale, local details of the nanocrystal structure, which may differ considerably from bulk-like. Advanced synchrotron radiation techniques wil ....Applying advanced synchrotron radiation-based techniques to determine the connection between the geometric and electronic structure of semiconductor nanocrystals. As the dimensions of nanocrystals become small unique optical and electronic properties are observed, forming the basis of many new technologies. The properties of interest depend on the fine-scale, local details of the nanocrystal structure, which may differ considerably from bulk-like. Advanced synchrotron radiation techniques will be used to investigate the relationship between the local geometric and electronic structure of semiconductor nanocrystals. Insight will be provided to their formation and stability, and the important mechanisms of their unique optical and electronic properties will be identified. Such fundamental information is necessary to facilitate innovative application of future nanocrystal technology.Read moreRead less