Statistical Mechanics of Classical Glasses. Glasses and ceramics can possess a combination of properties not available in other materials and thus they are of technological importance with rapidly developing applications. However a fundamental theoretical basis for describing these systems has been missing. The reason for this is that glasses are not in thermodynamic equilibrium, so the standard tools of equilibrium statistical mechanics cannot be rigorously applied . This project will make an i ....Statistical Mechanics of Classical Glasses. Glasses and ceramics can possess a combination of properties not available in other materials and thus they are of technological importance with rapidly developing applications. However a fundamental theoretical basis for describing these systems has been missing. The reason for this is that glasses are not in thermodynamic equilibrium, so the standard tools of equilibrium statistical mechanics cannot be rigorously applied . This project will make an important contribution towards building a strong local knowledge base by addressing the problem of understanding the glassy state. The knowledge base can then serve as a springboard for possible high tech applications in materials science and engineering.Read moreRead less
Soft modes in glasses: chemical control of relaxation and mechanical response. The unusual dynamical and mechanical properties of viscous liquids and glasses underpins many existing and emerging technologies, from lubrication to the strength and fragility of bulk metallic glasses. An improved understanding of how macroscopic properties such as viscous flow, ductility and fracture emerge from the microscopic interactions between atoms and molecules will provide the enabling scientific knowledge f ....Soft modes in glasses: chemical control of relaxation and mechanical response. The unusual dynamical and mechanical properties of viscous liquids and glasses underpins many existing and emerging technologies, from lubrication to the strength and fragility of bulk metallic glasses. An improved understanding of how macroscopic properties such as viscous flow, ductility and fracture emerge from the microscopic interactions between atoms and molecules will provide the enabling scientific knowledge for exploiting the properties of such materials on the nanoscale. National expertise in this area will help establish and strengthen international collaboration with leading research institutes in the field.Read moreRead less
Experimental Demonstrations of New Theorems of Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics. In the last decade, two theorems have been proposed to revolutionise the field of thermodynamics. These theorems lift the restriction of the thermodynamic limit, allowing thermodynamic concepts to be applied to small systems such as nanomachines, and characterise systems that may be far-from-equilibrium. These theorems are at odds with a traditional understanding of 19th century thermodynamics where equilibrium is cent ....Experimental Demonstrations of New Theorems of Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics. In the last decade, two theorems have been proposed to revolutionise the field of thermodynamics. These theorems lift the restriction of the thermodynamic limit, allowing thermodynamic concepts to be applied to small systems such as nanomachines, and characterise systems that may be far-from-equilibrium. These theorems are at odds with a traditional understanding of 19th century thermodynamics where equilibrium is central and the Second Law inviolate. However they are critical to the application of thermodynamic concepts to modern systems of the 21st century. Using Optical Tweezers, we will experimentally demonstrate these theorems, present irrefutable evidence of their validity, and demonstrate their application in modern systems.Read moreRead less
Modelling of transdermal transport using computational molecular simulation. Through molecular simulation, we aim to model the transport of a variety of molecules through lipid bilayers typical of human skin, identifying key transport mechanisms and properties. We anticipate that this work will provide insight into existing transdermal delivery data, helping to identify relations between the physicochemical properties of a molecule and its transport properties. Ultimately, such knowledge can fac ....Modelling of transdermal transport using computational molecular simulation. Through molecular simulation, we aim to model the transport of a variety of molecules through lipid bilayers typical of human skin, identifying key transport mechanisms and properties. We anticipate that this work will provide insight into existing transdermal delivery data, helping to identify relations between the physicochemical properties of a molecule and its transport properties. Ultimately, such knowledge can facilitate the development of more efficient transdermal drug delivery, which offers significant advantages over oral delivery (which leads to high waste and variability due to drug loss in the stomach and liver) and intravenous delivery (which raises compliance issues due to the adverse psychological response of patients).Read moreRead less
The architecture of networks: Characterisation and visualisation of complex systems as fluctuating networks. Complex systems comprise many mutually interacting components, characterised by a range of different interactions over time and space. They are dynamical systems, whose features are reminiscent of a web, with fluctuating links of varying strengths. The natural paradigm for such systems is a generic network, or a graph. A suite of novel measures from statistical physics, graph theory, top ....The architecture of networks: Characterisation and visualisation of complex systems as fluctuating networks. Complex systems comprise many mutually interacting components, characterised by a range of different interactions over time and space. They are dynamical systems, whose features are reminiscent of a web, with fluctuating links of varying strengths. The natural paradigm for such systems is a generic network, or a graph. A suite of novel measures from statistical physics, graph theory, topology, geometry, and computer graphics will be developed to characterise system/graph growth and stability. The aim is two-fold: first to reduce real complex systems (mainly financial systems) to computationally manageable structures (including direct visualisation) and second to construct realistic models of the evolution of such systems.Read moreRead less
Relative free energies from nonequilibrium simulations: algorithms for determination of binding affinities, conformational states and phase transitions. Leading edge research will enable state of the art techniques in statistical mechanics to be applied to practical problems. All processes in biological, chemical and physical systems are governed by their free energy landscape, often only accessible computationally. This project will lead to an advanced tool for free energy calculation. Advanc ....Relative free energies from nonequilibrium simulations: algorithms for determination of binding affinities, conformational states and phase transitions. Leading edge research will enable state of the art techniques in statistical mechanics to be applied to practical problems. All processes in biological, chemical and physical systems are governed by their free energy landscape, often only accessible computationally. This project will lead to an advanced tool for free energy calculation. Advancement of emerging technologies in nanoscience, porous materials, membrane transport and drug design will benefit from this capability. The project therefore addresses the Priority Goal 'Breakthrough science'. A PhD student and an Early Career Research will be trained in research, gaining a range of valuable skills in theory and simulation. Read moreRead less
New Geometric and Entropy Techniques for Differential Equations. The three main practical outcomes of this mathematical research will be better predictability of salt movement responsible for land degradation, better predictability of surface evolution of microelectronic components in nanoscale technology and an open source computer package that harnesses new and powerful geometrical techniques to solve differential equations. The project will train the next generation of researchers in the math ....New Geometric and Entropy Techniques for Differential Equations. The three main practical outcomes of this mathematical research will be better predictability of salt movement responsible for land degradation, better predictability of surface evolution of microelectronic components in nanoscale technology and an open source computer package that harnesses new and powerful geometrical techniques to solve differential equations. The project will train the next generation of researchers in the mathematical modelling of critical physical processes and it will bring international experts to Australia to work on these vital problems.Read moreRead less
Friction and capillary forces. Reducing friction forces is important for improving the performance of moving components in devices, and also useful for relieving people from pains at joints. In ambient conditions, confined liquids have a great influence on friction forces because an attractive force is induced by capillary condensation and adsorption between the surfaces. The correlation between capillary and friction forces will be clarified by force measurements with newly developed surface fo ....Friction and capillary forces. Reducing friction forces is important for improving the performance of moving components in devices, and also useful for relieving people from pains at joints. In ambient conditions, confined liquids have a great influence on friction forces because an attractive force is induced by capillary condensation and adsorption between the surfaces. The correlation between capillary and friction forces will be clarified by force measurements with newly developed surface force apparatuses in various conditions. Theoretical interpretation of influences of molecular layered liquids between the sliding surfaces on frictional behaviour will be also given based on thermodynamics.Read moreRead less
Redefining Temperature. The international system of units, which is at the basis of every accurate measurement, requires coherent definitions for its basic units (eg. metre, second, kelvin). Unfortunately, at the moment this is not so, and a global call has gone out to redefine every basic unit in terms of fundamental constants, which are by definition the same anywhere and anytime. This project will develop a new laser-based approach to measuring temperature which can be widely deployed and us ....Redefining Temperature. The international system of units, which is at the basis of every accurate measurement, requires coherent definitions for its basic units (eg. metre, second, kelvin). Unfortunately, at the moment this is not so, and a global call has gone out to redefine every basic unit in terms of fundamental constants, which are by definition the same anywhere and anytime. This project will develop a new laser-based approach to measuring temperature which can be widely deployed and uses fundamental principles for its operation: this can bring accuracy to thermometry in industry for the first time. These outcomes will generate high-level recognition for this Australian project and provide opportunities for high level research training.Read moreRead less
Physics of Risk: new tools to survey the Australian market and beyond. The lives of most Australians depend on the dynamics of financial markets that affects investments, savings, business, employment, growth, wealth and -ultimately- the daily functioning of our society. Understanding, monitoring and managing the dynamics of financial markets is of crucial importance to policy-makers, financial institutions and businesses that are increasingly faced with managing risk, planning strategies and ta ....Physics of Risk: new tools to survey the Australian market and beyond. The lives of most Australians depend on the dynamics of financial markets that affects investments, savings, business, employment, growth, wealth and -ultimately- the daily functioning of our society. Understanding, monitoring and managing the dynamics of financial markets is of crucial importance to policy-makers, financial institutions and businesses that are increasingly faced with managing risk, planning strategies and taking decisions in an increasingly complex market-place. The project is also of importance to the continued evolution of physics in this country contributing to the emergence of a strong new area of statistical physics concerned with the ?real world? in a manner hitherto unknown.Read moreRead less