Atomistic anatomy of a nano transistor. The high-speed and low-power requirements of state-of-the-art transistors are met by material control that has reached an unprecedented level. The material in a nano-device has drastically different characteristics than in the bulk. To achieve this, the industry needs to implement strain, ultra sharp junctions, and well controlled potential profiles all on the nanometre scale. This project aims to develop a technique to directly measure these properties in ....Atomistic anatomy of a nano transistor. The high-speed and low-power requirements of state-of-the-art transistors are met by material control that has reached an unprecedented level. The material in a nano-device has drastically different characteristics than in the bulk. To achieve this, the industry needs to implement strain, ultra sharp junctions, and well controlled potential profiles all on the nanometre scale. This project aims to develop a technique to directly measure these properties in an actual device. Electrical and optical atom tomography will make it possible to map device parameters on the atomic scale. This atomistic anatomy has the potential to revolutionise the development of nanoscale devices and grow into a tool for a multi-billion dollar industry.Read moreRead less
Superconducting silicon nanodevices. This project will investigate superconductivity in silicon nanowire devices exhibiting both p-type and n-type conductivity. It builds on the recent demonstration at the University of Melbourne of superconductivity in nanowire devices at length-scales suitable for realisation of a broad range of superconducting device structures and utilises standard semiconductor-industry processes. This project will create a new platform for superconducting device developmen ....Superconducting silicon nanodevices. This project will investigate superconductivity in silicon nanowire devices exhibiting both p-type and n-type conductivity. It builds on the recent demonstration at the University of Melbourne of superconductivity in nanowire devices at length-scales suitable for realisation of a broad range of superconducting device structures and utilises standard semiconductor-industry processes. This project will create a new platform for superconducting device development in silicon with potential for building devices with new functionality and improved performance for applications in quantum information technologies, enhancing Australia’s global reputation in quantum information science and assisting emerging industries in this high-valued added area.Read moreRead less
Two dimensional conjugated polymers: a new class of functional nanomaterials. New technologies depend on the design and development of novel materials. This project will synthesise a new class of materials, namely two dimensional conjugated polymers, which have enormous potential for creating new technologies, for example in electronics and sensing.
Engineering one dimensional quantum phases with nanostructured Josephson junction arrays. This project aims to engineer novel quantum electronic devices based on strongly-coupled, one-dimensional superconducting microcircuits. These will be realised using chains of nanoscale superconducting islands fabricated on a chip. The project expects to achieve a special type of insulating state, where individual charges can be transported one by one. This would be significant as a primary standard that pr ....Engineering one dimensional quantum phases with nanostructured Josephson junction arrays. This project aims to engineer novel quantum electronic devices based on strongly-coupled, one-dimensional superconducting microcircuits. These will be realised using chains of nanoscale superconducting islands fabricated on a chip. The project expects to achieve a special type of insulating state, where individual charges can be transported one by one. This would be significant as a primary standard that precisely links time (or frequency) to charge. The project also aims to create a current mirror device, in which a supercurrent sent down one chain induces a reflected supercurrent in the other, forming the basis of a new superconducting quantum bit. Other devices will be used to study a simplified model related to high temperature superconductors.Read moreRead less
Elastically controlled magnetoelectric transduction in thin film multilayers. Ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials have attracted significant attention and exhibited potential in many applications such as storage memories, solid-state light sources and a range of smart chemical and biological sensors. This proposal seeks to investigate the behaviour of these materials in layered form, where an imposed mechanical traction induces novel combinations of ferroelectric and magnetic properties. T ....Elastically controlled magnetoelectric transduction in thin film multilayers. Ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials have attracted significant attention and exhibited potential in many applications such as storage memories, solid-state light sources and a range of smart chemical and biological sensors. This proposal seeks to investigate the behaviour of these materials in layered form, where an imposed mechanical traction induces novel combinations of ferroelectric and magnetic properties. The fundamental understanding of the behaviour of these materials will help us develop new material systems with exciting possibilities in the design of advanced devices and sensors.Read moreRead less
Hot Topic: Quantum Design of Phononic Heat Filters. Heat management is critical to many technologies for sustainable energy, electronics, protective equipment and energy-efficient buildings. The phonon is the quantum particle representing a travelling vibration and is responsible for the transmission of heat in solids. This project will study the new mechanisms for phonon transport in solids modified with embedded nanoparticles, which operate as phononic filters. Neutron spectroscopy provides a ....Hot Topic: Quantum Design of Phononic Heat Filters. Heat management is critical to many technologies for sustainable energy, electronics, protective equipment and energy-efficient buildings. The phonon is the quantum particle representing a travelling vibration and is responsible for the transmission of heat in solids. This project will study the new mechanisms for phonon transport in solids modified with embedded nanoparticles, which operate as phononic filters. Neutron spectroscopy provides a tool to measure the phonon density of states which is critical for developing a mathematical model of thermal boundary resistance. This is expected to identify mechanisms for ultra-low thermal conductivity leading to potential applications in thermoelectric generators and heat-resistant materials.Read moreRead less
Novel multiferroic materials for the next generation of microelectronics: the effect of isotope substitution on magnetism. Materials which are either magnetic or ferroelectric are essential in modern information technologies. In multiferroic materials both properties coexist. They have large potential for industrial applications like the increase of data storage capacity. This project will investigate the nature of multiferroics and help develop these novel materials.
Three Dimensional Integrated Circuits. Pushing the boundaries of current silicon fabrication technology, this proposal will investigate the possibilities of new 3D architectures to ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of world-wide research into atomic-scale electronics. It creates an important link to the latest technologies in atomistic device modelling in the US, developed at Texas Instruments. More importantly, by anticipating the problems that electronic device manufacturers are c ....Three Dimensional Integrated Circuits. Pushing the boundaries of current silicon fabrication technology, this proposal will investigate the possibilities of new 3D architectures to ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of world-wide research into atomic-scale electronics. It creates an important link to the latest technologies in atomistic device modelling in the US, developed at Texas Instruments. More importantly, by anticipating the problems that electronic device manufacturers are currently facing, and will face over their long-term horizons, the proposed research also seeks to provide Australia with a chance to lift its involvement in the multi-trillion dollar global semiconductor industry.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of enriched silicon for long-lived donor quantum states. We have discovered a method to make silicon highly enriched in the desirable spin-zero isotope using readily available ion implantation tools. This “semiconductor vacuum” is essential for building future quantum computer devices using the quantum spin of millions of implanted atoms with revolutionary capabilities. We have demonstrated long-lived implanted donor atom quantum states in prototype material, made possible by the deple ....Synthesis of enriched silicon for long-lived donor quantum states. We have discovered a method to make silicon highly enriched in the desirable spin-zero isotope using readily available ion implantation tools. This “semiconductor vacuum” is essential for building future quantum computer devices using the quantum spin of millions of implanted atoms with revolutionary capabilities. We have demonstrated long-lived implanted donor atom quantum states in prototype material, made possible by the depletion of background spins in natural silicon and now aim to push the enrichment to greater extremes. We will integrate the extreme material into functional devices that use electrically detected electron spin resonance to probe exceptionally durable quantum states and open a near-term pathway to large-scale devices.Read moreRead less
Multidimensional Coherent Spectroscopy of Strongly Correlated Materials. By applying new types of spectroscopy, this project aims to address the gaps in our understanding of how remarkable macroscopic properties, such as superconductivity, emerge from the fundamental interactions in strongly correlated electron materials. This project will combine theory and experiment to develop a pathway by which multidimensional coherent spectroscopy can disentangle the competing interactions that make these ....Multidimensional Coherent Spectroscopy of Strongly Correlated Materials. By applying new types of spectroscopy, this project aims to address the gaps in our understanding of how remarkable macroscopic properties, such as superconductivity, emerge from the fundamental interactions in strongly correlated electron materials. This project will combine theory and experiment to develop a pathway by which multidimensional coherent spectroscopy can disentangle the competing interactions that make these materials so complex, but also potentially useful. By delivering an understanding of the interplay between different microscopic processes, the project will make it more feasible to control them. This will allow for the design new controllable quantum materials that can be the basis for future technologies.Read moreRead less