Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101593
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,948.00
Summary
Developing new tools to search for dark matter. This project aims to propose and assist in the development of novel approaches, based on atomic, molecular and optical technologies, to detect dark matter in the laboratory, and thereby establish the identity and microscopic properties of dark matter. The origin and nature of dark matter remains one of the most important outstanding problems in contemporary science. The intended outcome of this project is that the use of our novel methods will enab ....Developing new tools to search for dark matter. This project aims to propose and assist in the development of novel approaches, based on atomic, molecular and optical technologies, to detect dark matter in the laboratory, and thereby establish the identity and microscopic properties of dark matter. The origin and nature of dark matter remains one of the most important outstanding problems in contemporary science. The intended outcome of this project is that the use of our novel methods will enable us to search for forms of dark matter that have remained largely unprobed to date. This in turn is expected to open up new opportunities in the global hunt for dark matter that should improve our chances of finally discovering the nature and properties of dark matter.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101441
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,219.00
Summary
Thinking outside the box: spherical geometry in chemistry and physics. Spherical models are extremely powerful for understanding, explaining and predicting physical and chemical phenomena. This work takes advantage of the spherical model superiority to tackle some fundamental unsolved problems in physics and chemistry, and this will lead to new insights in their field.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101024
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
How antimatter and matter solvates in liquids. This project aims to improve solvation in transport calculations and polar liquids. Solvation, the process of a particle becoming trapped in a liquid, is important in Positron Emission Tomography medical imaging. However, this application can only be described through particle transport simulation, which cannot address solvation. Modelling the dynamical solvation process of the electron and the positron, its antimatter counterpart, is expected to en ....How antimatter and matter solvates in liquids. This project aims to improve solvation in transport calculations and polar liquids. Solvation, the process of a particle becoming trapped in a liquid, is important in Positron Emission Tomography medical imaging. However, this application can only be described through particle transport simulation, which cannot address solvation. Modelling the dynamical solvation process of the electron and the positron, its antimatter counterpart, is expected to enable accurate simulation of medical imaging, acquiring the greatest amount of information for the smallest dosage of radiation to the patient allowing for lower patient radiation doses and more informative scans.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101026
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,835.00
Summary
Atomic physics as a probe for fundamental physics and dark matter. The Standard Model is extremely effective at describing the fundamental particles and interactions, but is known to be incomplete. This project aims to uncover new signatures of physics beyond the Standard Model that may be observed in atomic experiments. This project expects to generate new knowledge to help unravel the mystery of dark matter, which accounts for the majority (85%) of the matter in the universe. Expected outcomes ....Atomic physics as a probe for fundamental physics and dark matter. The Standard Model is extremely effective at describing the fundamental particles and interactions, but is known to be incomplete. This project aims to uncover new signatures of physics beyond the Standard Model that may be observed in atomic experiments. This project expects to generate new knowledge to help unravel the mystery of dark matter, which accounts for the majority (85%) of the matter in the universe. Expected outcomes include extending theoretical atomic physics methods, calculating new observable atomic effects, and combining these with experiments to probe fundamental physics and search for dark matter. These outcomes would contribute to the expanding knowledge in the fields of atomic and fundamental physics.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101033
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
An ultrafast mid-infrared fiber laser: short pulses at long wavelengths. This project will result in the creation of a unique laser system, operating in the mid-infrared wavelength range and generating short bursts of light, which will have a potentially revolutionary impact in many areas of physics, health, defence and astronomy.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100399
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Are the laws of physics changing? New methods for detecting variations in the fundamental constants. This project will identify new methods whereby scientists are much more likely to discover whether the fundamental constants of nature, such as the speed of light, are changing with time. This will help answer deep questions about whether there are extra dimensions beyond our three, the nature of dark energy, and whether string theory is correct.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100666
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,536.00
Summary
Quantum metrology with strongly correlated Rydberg gases. The project aims to make the world's most sensitive measurement of high-frequency electric fields, and demonstrate the first quantum-enhanced electric field measurement. It will use quantum entanglement and Rydberg atoms, excited to the very edge of the classical/quantum divide, to reach record sensitivities for fields associated with next generation ultrafast electronic, communication and radar devices. The project aims to build on the e ....Quantum metrology with strongly correlated Rydberg gases. The project aims to make the world's most sensitive measurement of high-frequency electric fields, and demonstrate the first quantum-enhanced electric field measurement. It will use quantum entanglement and Rydberg atoms, excited to the very edge of the classical/quantum divide, to reach record sensitivities for fields associated with next generation ultrafast electronic, communication and radar devices. The project aims to build on the existing Australian research strengths in photonics, atomic physics and quantum sensing, with the potential to provide a disruptive technological breakthrough in the measurement of ultra-high-frequency electric fields, and establish a high profile research effort in the field of strongly correlated quantum gases.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101093
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,587.00
Summary
Development and application of super-sensitive spinning quantum sensors. This project aims to use physical rotation of diamonds on timescales faster than quantum decoherence to set new detection limits for precision quantum sensing of electric and magnetic fields. This potentially allows us to see for the first time how the Coriolis force acts on current flowing in a frame rotating 700,000,000 times faster than the earth. The project's expected outcomes are electro-magnetic sensors with unpreced ....Development and application of super-sensitive spinning quantum sensors. This project aims to use physical rotation of diamonds on timescales faster than quantum decoherence to set new detection limits for precision quantum sensing of electric and magnetic fields. This potentially allows us to see for the first time how the Coriolis force acts on current flowing in a frame rotating 700,000,000 times faster than the earth. The project's expected outcomes are electro-magnetic sensors with unprecedented sensitivity that could find application in areas ranging from detecting household wiring to locating magnetic anomalies for defence. These outcomes should fill a blind spot of quantum magnetometry, have commercial impact and expand our knowledge of quantum physics in the rotating frame.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100098
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$403,536.00
Summary
Can positronium fragment complex molecules? This project aims to explore whether positronium, which is produced in the body during positron emission tomography (PET), can damage DNA. PET scans are used to locate cancer. Positrons produce positronium, a matter-antimatter bound state, in the body during a PET scan. It is known that electrons can damage DNA by forming a transient negative ion that fragments DNA building blocks and it is suggested that positronium could damage DNA in the same way. T ....Can positronium fragment complex molecules? This project aims to explore whether positronium, which is produced in the body during positron emission tomography (PET), can damage DNA. PET scans are used to locate cancer. Positrons produce positronium, a matter-antimatter bound state, in the body during a PET scan. It is known that electrons can damage DNA by forming a transient negative ion that fragments DNA building blocks and it is suggested that positronium could damage DNA in the same way. This work will explore fragmentation of DNA nucleobases by positronium impact. The results of this work may contribute to new models of PET use.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100624
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,529.00
Summary
The impact of structural dynamics on three-dimensional bioimaging with X-ray free-electron lasers. X-ray lasers can potentially determine the structures of biological molecules that are inaccessible to existing techniques. Intense ultrafast pulses encode the structure via diffraction faster than damage processes rip the molecule apart. In fact, damage processes begin during diffraction and remain problematic. It is not known if damage will prevent the determination of molecular orientations, a c ....The impact of structural dynamics on three-dimensional bioimaging with X-ray free-electron lasers. X-ray lasers can potentially determine the structures of biological molecules that are inaccessible to existing techniques. Intense ultrafast pulses encode the structure via diffraction faster than damage processes rip the molecule apart. In fact, damage processes begin during diffraction and remain problematic. It is not known if damage will prevent the determination of molecular orientations, a critical step in the experimental design. This project will solve this problem with a statistical theory, probing the feasibility and accuracy of the technique. The newly developed theory will enable us to perform experiments capable of measuring the effects of damage in biological molecules, paving the way for new methods of structure determination.Read moreRead less