Electron and Positron Interactions with Bio-Molecules. This program of research will quantify reaction rates and elucidate reaction pathways for a range of important processes in our bodies involving ionising radiation. It will lead to a greatly improved understanding of positron and electron interactions with biological systems, including DNA and its constituent molecules and, through a better understanding of the underlying fundamental interactions, will lay foundations for improvements in te ....Electron and Positron Interactions with Bio-Molecules. This program of research will quantify reaction rates and elucidate reaction pathways for a range of important processes in our bodies involving ionising radiation. It will lead to a greatly improved understanding of positron and electron interactions with biological systems, including DNA and its constituent molecules and, through a better understanding of the underlying fundamental interactions, will lay foundations for improvements in technologies such as PET imaging. Read moreRead less
The acoustics of a wide-range autonomous oscillator: how do brass players do it? While brass instruments are well understood, the complexities of the interaction with the player are not. This study will analyse how the player's lips and vocal tract interact with the instrument, leading to an understanding not only of the interesting physics involved, but to insight that will benefit players, teachers and students.
5D Imaging Flow Cytometry for in vivo Quantification of Biological Fluids. Rapid and accurate quantification of live biological fluid properties at sub-cellular and molecular levels forms the bedrock of biofluidic sciences. Majority of the biofluidic devices rely on quantifying biological fluids after its removal from the body in an in vitro Flow Cytometer (FC). FC faces many caveats i.e. biological degradation and small volume etc. In this project, we shall engineer the first in vivo 5D imaging ....5D Imaging Flow Cytometry for in vivo Quantification of Biological Fluids. Rapid and accurate quantification of live biological fluid properties at sub-cellular and molecular levels forms the bedrock of biofluidic sciences. Majority of the biofluidic devices rely on quantifying biological fluids after its removal from the body in an in vitro Flow Cytometer (FC). FC faces many caveats i.e. biological degradation and small volume etc. In this project, we shall engineer the first in vivo 5D imaging flow cytometer (5D IFC) capable of continuous assessment of potentially entire blood volume in a living mice without removing fluid out of the body. The project represents a major advancement beyond any existing flow cytometer and overcome the engineering limits of state-of-art laser scanning imaging devices.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear optics of soft matter. This project will develop new strategies for the use and control of soft-matter systems by exploiting nonlinear interactions with light, and therefore falls into the Designated Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries - Breakthrough Science. With soft matter research being increasingly important for applications within industry and medicine, the emergence of new technology for control of nanoparticles could pr ....Nonlinear optics of soft matter. This project will develop new strategies for the use and control of soft-matter systems by exploiting nonlinear interactions with light, and therefore falls into the Designated Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries - Breakthrough Science. With soft matter research being increasingly important for applications within industry and medicine, the emergence of new technology for control of nanoparticles could provide significant benefits for the scientific community as well as Australian companies.
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Controlled manipulation of matter-waves in atomic waveguiding structures. This project will enable Australian researchers to actively participate in the cutting edge, internationally competitive research that investigates ways to manipulate and guide large ensembles of ultra-cold atoms and underpins future technological applications in ultra-high-precision metrology and sensors. Australia is currently moving into a prominent position amongst world leaders in this fast-paced research field. The o ....Controlled manipulation of matter-waves in atomic waveguiding structures. This project will enable Australian researchers to actively participate in the cutting edge, internationally competitive research that investigates ways to manipulate and guide large ensembles of ultra-cold atoms and underpins future technological applications in ultra-high-precision metrology and sensors. Australia is currently moving into a prominent position amongst world leaders in this fast-paced research field. The outcomes of this proposal will further raise the prestige of Australian research overseas, and lead to greater acceptance of Australia as a major player in fundamental research. It will also provide outstanding training opportunities for young researchers.Read moreRead less
Matter-wave vortices in engineered nanostructures. This project tackles some of the key problems which must be solved before any applications of manipulating and controlling Bose-Einstein condensates with nanostructures can be realised. This project is therefore of National Benefit for its advances in critical fundamental research and for the potential applications which may be ultimately derived from harnessing the power of this new state of matter. Australia is at the forefront of this revol ....Matter-wave vortices in engineered nanostructures. This project tackles some of the key problems which must be solved before any applications of manipulating and controlling Bose-Einstein condensates with nanostructures can be realised. This project is therefore of National Benefit for its advances in critical fundamental research and for the potential applications which may be ultimately derived from harnessing the power of this new state of matter. Australia is at the forefront of this revolution in quantum technology. This project furthers Australia's competitive position and opens up new opportunities for ground-breaking research and applications in an area which has the potential to be as revolutionary as the development of the laser.Read moreRead less
Studies of turbulence and coherent structures in quasi two-dimensional plasmas and fluids. One of the most celebrated but least understood complex systems in nature is turbulent flow. This cross-disciplinary project aims to contribute to basic scientific knowledge of a class of turbulent flows, known as quasi two-dimensional fluids, that typically exhibit self-organizing properties, stable sheared flow, and relatively weak dissipation. The significance lies in the proposed testing, by modelling ....Studies of turbulence and coherent structures in quasi two-dimensional plasmas and fluids. One of the most celebrated but least understood complex systems in nature is turbulent flow. This cross-disciplinary project aims to contribute to basic scientific knowledge of a class of turbulent flows, known as quasi two-dimensional fluids, that typically exhibit self-organizing properties, stable sheared flow, and relatively weak dissipation. The significance lies in the proposed testing, by modelling and simulation studies, of the well-grounded hypothesis that suppression of turbulence by sheared flow is a universal phenomenon in such fluids, and that it can be exploited to control transport of fluid constituents. Applications of this new knowledge will be developed.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of multi-component matter waves. The recent observation of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in weakly interacting ultracold gases has opened the door to the field of coherent matter-wave optics. When the BEC is treated within a mean-field approach the equations resemble those for the propagation of light in nonlinear media. The main aim of this project is to bring our broad and deep nonlinear optical expertise to bare on the classical nonlinear dynamics of multi-component BEC like syste ....Dynamics of multi-component matter waves. The recent observation of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in weakly interacting ultracold gases has opened the door to the field of coherent matter-wave optics. When the BEC is treated within a mean-field approach the equations resemble those for the propagation of light in nonlinear media. The main aim of this project is to bring our broad and deep nonlinear optical expertise to bare on the classical nonlinear dynamics of multi-component BEC like systems. The expected outcome is a position of world leadership in the theoretical understanding of the dynamics of atom lasers, mixed atom-molecule BECs, and fragmented BECs in optical lattices.Read moreRead less
The New Atom Laser: Theory of Quantum Atom Optical Sources. The atom laser is a new device which produces a coherent source of ultracold atoms. A practical atom laser will be a revolutionary source for atom optics. This project will develop a comprehensive and practical quantum theory of a new generation of atom lasers which can produce a continuous beam. This will require a different and more complicated theoretical approach to that which worked for optical lasers, but the result will be a d ....The New Atom Laser: Theory of Quantum Atom Optical Sources. The atom laser is a new device which produces a coherent source of ultracold atoms. A practical atom laser will be a revolutionary source for atom optics. This project will develop a comprehensive and practical quantum theory of a new generation of atom lasers which can produce a continuous beam. This will require a different and more complicated theoretical approach to that which worked for optical lasers, but the result will be a device with a spectral flux which is orders of magnitude better than the current state of the art.Read moreRead less
Detection and Control of Ultracold Atoms. Australia is at the forefront of research into atom lasers, a device that may be as important to science and technology this century as the laser was in the last. This project will provide important theoretical tools for developing the atom laser from an object of intrinsic interest to a useful tool. It will develop Australian scientific expertise in this area, and provide training for the next generation of Australian scientists.