Atomic sensors for dark matter, rotation and magnetic fields. This project aims to develop ultra-high-performance sensors. The research will explore new methods for using the magnetic and optical properties of atomic gases to enable multi-parameter sensing without crosstalk between measurements. It is expected that techniques will be developed to allow simultaneous sensing of rotation and magnetic fields using devices that are compact, ultra-precise and energy efficient. It is also anticipated t ....Atomic sensors for dark matter, rotation and magnetic fields. This project aims to develop ultra-high-performance sensors. The research will explore new methods for using the magnetic and optical properties of atomic gases to enable multi-parameter sensing without crosstalk between measurements. It is expected that techniques will be developed to allow simultaneous sensing of rotation and magnetic fields using devices that are compact, ultra-precise and energy efficient. It is also anticipated that these new atomic sensors will support a global network looking for dark matter, which although never seen, is thought to make up 85% of the mass of the universe. The outcomes are expected to benefit medical science, geo-exploration, high-tech manufacturing, navigation and our understanding of the universe.Read moreRead less
Ion-atom collision data for fusion energy, hadron therapy and astrophysics. This project aims to combine experimental and theoretical efforts to generate accurate data required for the development and maintenance of fusion reactors, treatment planning in hadron therapy of cancerous tumours, and modelling astrophysical phenomena. Hadron therapy has been used successfully worldwide for over a decade with Australia’s first such facility, the Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy, currently under construc ....Ion-atom collision data for fusion energy, hadron therapy and astrophysics. This project aims to combine experimental and theoretical efforts to generate accurate data required for the development and maintenance of fusion reactors, treatment planning in hadron therapy of cancerous tumours, and modelling astrophysical phenomena. Hadron therapy has been used successfully worldwide for over a decade with Australia’s first such facility, the Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy, currently under construction. Fusion reactors are a source of abundant green energy. Immense progress is being made in their construction and underlying technology. Currently, there is an urgent demand for accurate data on ion-beam collisions with atoms and molecules for the aforementioned applications. This project intends to meet this demand.Read moreRead less
Electron-molecule collisions in fusion and astrophysical plasmas. This project will apply innovative methods developed in Australia to accurately model electron collisions with diatomic hydrides. It will generate new knowledge of the dynamics underlying fundamental chemical reactions, and bring international scientists together to study the influence of molecules in plasmas more accurately than ever before. Outcomes will include essential diagnostics for fusion reactors, methods for using the Ja ....Electron-molecule collisions in fusion and astrophysical plasmas. This project will apply innovative methods developed in Australia to accurately model electron collisions with diatomic hydrides. It will generate new knowledge of the dynamics underlying fundamental chemical reactions, and bring international scientists together to study the influence of molecules in plasmas more accurately than ever before. Outcomes will include essential diagnostics for fusion reactors, methods for using the James Webb Space Telescope to study astrophysical clouds, and strengthened ties between Australia and the global plasma physics community. The significant benefits will include accelerating the development of fusion technology as an alternative to fossil fuels, and furthering our understanding of stellar evolution.Read moreRead less
Shedding Light on the Proton Radius Puzzle with Ultracold Helium. This project aims to shed light on an outstanding discrepancy in physics known as the proton radius puzzle, first seen in hydrogen but now being studied in helium. Capitalising on existing international collaboration between experiment and theory to exploit the advantages of ultracold helium, this project aims to determine the isotopic nuclear charge radius difference with unprecedented precision, using our state-of-the-art quantu ....Shedding Light on the Proton Radius Puzzle with Ultracold Helium. This project aims to shed light on an outstanding discrepancy in physics known as the proton radius puzzle, first seen in hydrogen but now being studied in helium. Capitalising on existing international collaboration between experiment and theory to exploit the advantages of ultracold helium, this project aims to determine the isotopic nuclear charge radius difference with unprecedented precision, using our state-of-the-art quantum electrodynamic theory. This will not only answer fundamental questions about helium atomic structure, but may also reveal new physics beyond the current Standard Model. The validation of atomic structure theory should provide benefits in applications including the realisation of more accurate atomic clocks.Read moreRead less
Novel source of excited metastable atoms for Atom Trap Trace Analysis. This project aims to understand and to control light-induced processes in atoms by using finely shaped and tailored laser pulses, focusing on efficient production of excited metastable atoms. This is critical for efficient Atom Trap Trace Analysis, the most advanced technique for dating ground water and geological samples. Expected outcomes of this project include new and enhanced knowledge of physics of light-matter interact ....Novel source of excited metastable atoms for Atom Trap Trace Analysis. This project aims to understand and to control light-induced processes in atoms by using finely shaped and tailored laser pulses, focusing on efficient production of excited metastable atoms. This is critical for efficient Atom Trap Trace Analysis, the most advanced technique for dating ground water and geological samples. Expected outcomes of this project include new and enhanced knowledge of physics of light-matter interactions, developing an efficient, clean source of excited metastable atoms, and integrating that source into the Australian National Facility for dating geological samples. This should provide significant benefits, such as significant improvement of operational efficiency and productivity of that facility.Read moreRead less
Violation of fundamental symmetries in atoms, molecules and nuclei. This theoretical project aims to predict enhanced effects of parity (P), time reversal (T), CP and Lorentz invariance violation, which may be measured using atomic spectroscopy and nuclear physics methods. This project expects to contribute to search for physics beyond standard model, including standard model extensions predicting axion, dark matter and T,P-violating electric dipole moments. Expected outcomes include predictions ....Violation of fundamental symmetries in atoms, molecules and nuclei. This theoretical project aims to predict enhanced effects of parity (P), time reversal (T), CP and Lorentz invariance violation, which may be measured using atomic spectroscopy and nuclear physics methods. This project expects to contribute to search for physics beyond standard model, including standard model extensions predicting axion, dark matter and T,P-violating electric dipole moments. Expected outcomes include predictions of new enhanced effects in nuclei, atoms and molecules. By-products and benefits include development of high precision computer codes for atomic calculations, which are expected to have numerous applications including photon and electron processes, properties of superheavy elements and atomic clocks.Read moreRead less
Diamond Voltage Microscopy: A new tool for neuroscience. This project aims to develop an optoelectronic voltage imaging microscope that can capture the sub-cellular electrical dynamics of neuronal networks. This will be achieved by leveraging the team’s technological breakthrough in the production of near-surface fluorescent defects in semiconducting diamond, which can optically detect local changes in electric potential. The expected outcomes of the project are a new microscopy modality and exp ....Diamond Voltage Microscopy: A new tool for neuroscience. This project aims to develop an optoelectronic voltage imaging microscope that can capture the sub-cellular electrical dynamics of neuronal networks. This will be achieved by leveraging the team’s technological breakthrough in the production of near-surface fluorescent defects in semiconducting diamond, which can optically detect local changes in electric potential. The expected outcomes of the project are a new microscopy modality and experimental framework which enables in vitro electrophysiological stimulation and recording at network scale and with single-synapse resolution. This will provide a much-needed tool to understand mechanisms underlying learning, memory formation and recall, and cognitive decline.Read moreRead less
Unshackling solitons through ultimate dispersion control. The project aims to generate and investigate several novel families of self-stabilising optical pulses by using a unique fibre laser we recently devised. By developing the associated theoretical models, the team will transform conceptual and experimental knowledge of nonlinear physics, providing deep insights into fibre lasers and the pulses they can emit. The expected outcomes are a complete understanding of entirely novel families of op ....Unshackling solitons through ultimate dispersion control. The project aims to generate and investigate several novel families of self-stabilising optical pulses by using a unique fibre laser we recently devised. By developing the associated theoretical models, the team will transform conceptual and experimental knowledge of nonlinear physics, providing deep insights into fibre lasers and the pulses they can emit. The expected outcomes are a complete understanding of entirely novel families of optical pulses, and of the degree to which the energy required to generate these pulses can be reduced. Reducing this energy means that these pulses can perform the same function at lower power, which will enable the emergence of new applications that will play powerful roles in the 21st-century economy.Read moreRead less
Probing new physics with atomic parity violation. This project aims to provide a new level of rigour in tests of the standard model of particle physics at low energies, and to reveal or more tightly constrain new particles or forces. This will involve the development of state-of-the-art atomic theory techniques and collaboration with world-leading experimental groups. The expected outcomes and benefits include a breakthrough in the precision of atomic theory calculations, new insights into nucle ....Probing new physics with atomic parity violation. This project aims to provide a new level of rigour in tests of the standard model of particle physics at low energies, and to reveal or more tightly constrain new particles or forces. This will involve the development of state-of-the-art atomic theory techniques and collaboration with world-leading experimental groups. The expected outcomes and benefits include a breakthrough in the precision of atomic theory calculations, new insights into nuclear magnetic structure, improved determination of fundamental particle physics parameters, stronger ties with the international experimental community, enhancing Australian leadership and expertise, and high-level training of the next generation of scientists.Read moreRead less