Stellar chemical signatures of planet formation. Through demanding observations with the largest telescopes and extremely accurate analyses, the project will search for the characteristic fingerprints of planet formation imprinted in the chemical compositions of the sun and stars that we have discovered. The work will shed light on the origin of the solar system and identify stars harbouring planets.
Prediction of solar activity and space weather by automated analyses of solar radio and magnetic field observations and simulations. This project will build world-recognised capabilities to forecast space weather events at Earth in time to take protective measures. It involves around the clock automated identification and analysis of specific solar radio bursts, forecasting solar activity that results in transients moving Earth-ward, and simulations to predict when these will reach Earth.
Space weather prediction via automated data analysis systems. The project will build world-recognised capabilities in forecasting space weather events at Earth, in time to take protective measures, identifying and analysing solar drivers of space weather, and modelling interplanetary space. Australia's scientific standing, expertise, and infrastructure will be strengthened in space science, complex systems, and multiple fields of physics. Better predictions will increase the utility of Ionosphe ....Space weather prediction via automated data analysis systems. The project will build world-recognised capabilities in forecasting space weather events at Earth, in time to take protective measures, identifying and analysing solar drivers of space weather, and modelling interplanetary space. Australia's scientific standing, expertise, and infrastructure will be strengthened in space science, complex systems, and multiple fields of physics. Better predictions will increase the utility of Ionospheric Prediction Service services to customers in government, industry, and society, leading to better communications, more assured access to space services, and reduced risks of damage to critical infrastructure. The project will enhance Australia's human capital and its role in global space efforts.Read moreRead less
Supporting early science from the Murchison Widefield Array - a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) pathfinder telescope. The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is likely to be the first operational pathfinder for the $2.5 billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) on one of the two candidate SKA sites - the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory (MRO) in Western Australia. The MWA will therefore generate large volumes of scientific data before 2012, the expected date of the international decision that will dete ....Supporting early science from the Murchison Widefield Array - a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) pathfinder telescope. The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is likely to be the first operational pathfinder for the $2.5 billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) on one of the two candidate SKA sites - the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory (MRO) in Western Australia. The MWA will therefore generate large volumes of scientific data before 2012, the expected date of the international decision that will determine whether Australia or South Africa is to host the SKA. The early science results from the MWA will showcase the excellence of the Australian site for radio astronomy and play a significant strategic role in Australia's bid to attract the SKA, as an international mega-science project to Australia, with its benefits to Australian science, industry and society.Read moreRead less
Supporting early science from the Murchison Widefield Array - a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) pathfinder telescope. The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is likely to be the first operational pathfinder for the $2.5 billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) on one of the two candidate SKA sites - the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory (MRO) in Western Australia. The MWA will therefore generate large volumes of scientific data before 2012, the expected date of the international decision that will dete ....Supporting early science from the Murchison Widefield Array - a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) pathfinder telescope. The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is likely to be the first operational pathfinder for the $2.5 billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) on one of the two candidate SKA sites - the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory (MRO) in Western Australia. The MWA will therefore generate large volumes of scientific data before 2012, the expected date of the international decision that will determine whether Australia or South Africa is to host the SKA. The early science results from the MWA will showcase the excellence of the Australian site for radio astronomy and play a significant strategic role in Australia's bid to attract the SKA, as an international mega-science project to Australia, with its benefits to Australian science, industry and society.Read moreRead less
A Stress-relax Model for Stellar Flares. This project aims to improve our ability to predict solar and stellar flares by developing a theoretical model for the build-up and release of magnetic stress in stellar atmospheres. Solar flares are the most energetic events in the solar system, and together with associated coronal mass ejections can create hazardous conditions in our local space environment. Stellar flares are thousands of times more energetic and produce dangerous space weather for exo ....A Stress-relax Model for Stellar Flares. This project aims to improve our ability to predict solar and stellar flares by developing a theoretical model for the build-up and release of magnetic stress in stellar atmospheres. Solar flares are the most energetic events in the solar system, and together with associated coronal mass ejections can create hazardous conditions in our local space environment. Stellar flares are thousands of times more energetic and produce dangerous space weather for exoplanets orbiting flare stars. Expected outcomes include insight into the flare mechanism, and new approaches to flare prediction. The major potential benefit is improved solar and stellar space weather forecasting to protect human safety and infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Geomagnetic induced currents in the Australian electricity supply network. This project will develop measures to protect the Australian electricity supply network from adverse effects of enhanced solar activity. This is essential for risk assessment and long term asset management of the Australian electricity network.
Understanding the sources of the slow solar wind. This project aims to reveal the origins of the slow solar wind, a continuous stream of plasma emanating from the Sun that fills the solar system and impacts the Earth. This project expects to enhance our understanding of how this solar wind is accelerated and structured using a suite of state-of-the-art computational simulations. In doing this, the project expects to provide critical physical understanding to allow interpretation of data from NA ....Understanding the sources of the slow solar wind. This project aims to reveal the origins of the slow solar wind, a continuous stream of plasma emanating from the Sun that fills the solar system and impacts the Earth. This project expects to enhance our understanding of how this solar wind is accelerated and structured using a suite of state-of-the-art computational simulations. In doing this, the project expects to provide critical physical understanding to allow interpretation of data from NASA and ESA's flagship space missions Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter. Benefits should include enhanced physical understanding that will contribute to the international effort to develop reliable space-weather forecasting systems, critical for space exploration and space-based technology.Read moreRead less
Prediction of coronal mass ejections and their radio emissions. This project aims to explain in detail the motion and properties of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) leaving the sun, the radio emissions they generate, and space weather triggers for the sun and other stars. The project expects to create new knowledge in the fields of space, plasma, and astro-physics and space weather research. Expected outcomes include capabilities to accurately predict CMEs and space weather triggers from the sun to ....Prediction of coronal mass ejections and their radio emissions. This project aims to explain in detail the motion and properties of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) leaving the sun, the radio emissions they generate, and space weather triggers for the sun and other stars. The project expects to create new knowledge in the fields of space, plasma, and astro-physics and space weather research. Expected outcomes include capabilities to accurately predict CMEs and space weather triggers from the sun to Earth and theories for type II and IV solar radio bursts. Benefits include high-level training and enhanced human capital and scientific prominence for Australia.Read moreRead less
Electrodynamics of magnetic explosions in astrophysics. The project aims to develop a new model for solar flares and pulsars that more realistically describes these phenomena. Solar flares and pulsars involve strong magnetic fields changing rapidly as a function of time, implying enormous inductive potentials. The project aims to show how the inductive field and the plasma response to it can be included in an electrodynamic theory. It plans to apply this theory to solar flares, and show how it c ....Electrodynamics of magnetic explosions in astrophysics. The project aims to develop a new model for solar flares and pulsars that more realistically describes these phenomena. Solar flares and pulsars involve strong magnetic fields changing rapidly as a function of time, implying enormous inductive potentials. The project aims to show how the inductive field and the plasma response to it can be included in an electrodynamic theory. It plans to apply this theory to solar flares, and show how it can resolve the long-standing ‘number problem’. It also plans to apply the model to pulsars, and show how the long-standing dichotomy between the vacuum-dipole and rotating-magnetosphere models can be resolved by synthesising them. The project intends to combine these ideas into a new model for the most extreme examples of magnetic explosions: superflares and giant bursts on magnetars.Read moreRead less