Auto-oscillation of human vocal folds: Key experiments using acoustic loads. This project aims to explain the basic physics of the voice using new, non-invasive, acoustic techniques. The physics of the vocal folds’ aeromechanical oscillation are not understood because this precious tissue is unavailable for direct experiments. This project shall determine how the flow and pressure at the larynx behave under acoustical loads and develop a data set that selects which models can explain vocal fold ....Auto-oscillation of human vocal folds: Key experiments using acoustic loads. This project aims to explain the basic physics of the voice using new, non-invasive, acoustic techniques. The physics of the vocal folds’ aeromechanical oscillation are not understood because this precious tissue is unavailable for direct experiments. This project shall determine how the flow and pressure at the larynx behave under acoustical loads and develop a data set that selects which models can explain vocal fold motion under different conditions and determine the parameters in those models. This project could benefit the huge industries that treat, record, compress, transmit, analyse and synthesise the voice.Read moreRead less
The voice: glottal flows, vocal tract resonances and their interaction. Speech is fundamental to human culture and huge industries exist that analyse, compress, synthesise, transmit and distribute it. Nevertheless, several practical difficulties mean that some key variables and how they interact are only imprecisely known. This project uses an innovative approach for deriving the glottal flow and a new technique for generating precise acoustical flows in model systems to refine the algorithms cu ....The voice: glottal flows, vocal tract resonances and their interaction. Speech is fundamental to human culture and huge industries exist that analyse, compress, synthesise, transmit and distribute it. Nevertheless, several practical difficulties mean that some key variables and how they interact are only imprecisely known. This project uses an innovative approach for deriving the glottal flow and a new technique for generating precise acoustical flows in model systems to refine the algorithms currently used to relate speech sound to the acoustic flow in the larynx. The project aims to provide the first reliable measurements of the bandwidths of resonances and the acoustical losses in vocal tracts. The results will have practical industrial and, perhaps, clinical applications.Read moreRead less
Crossing quantum-classical boundaries in a single particle. This project is aimed at constructing and observing an individual quantum system that can exhibit chaotic behaviour under controllable conditions. It is a long-sought goal of modern physics that can become reality for the first time in the world, thanks to the unique availability in Australia of the most quantum-coherent single spin ever made and a long history of theoretical advances in the field. Turning a spin into a chaotic system w ....Crossing quantum-classical boundaries in a single particle. This project is aimed at constructing and observing an individual quantum system that can exhibit chaotic behaviour under controllable conditions. It is a long-sought goal of modern physics that can become reality for the first time in the world, thanks to the unique availability in Australia of the most quantum-coherent single spin ever made and a long history of theoretical advances in the field. Turning a spin into a chaotic system will uncover the true nature of the quantum-classical boundary, and verify whether an underlying classical chaotic dynamics ultimately influences the behaviour of quantum systems. It is expected that the discoveries made will illuminate the path towards the technological exploitation of increasingly complex quantum devices.Read moreRead less
Metamaterials for control of acoustic radiation forces. This project aims to investigate how sound waves exert forces on objects, and how these forces can be controlled by artificially engineered structures known as acoustic metamaterials. The project is expected to lead to a new understanding of acoustic radiation forces, and how they can be efficiently manipulated with high resolution. The expected outcome is a new capability for the measurement of delicate mechanical structures, which avoids ....Metamaterials for control of acoustic radiation forces. This project aims to investigate how sound waves exert forces on objects, and how these forces can be controlled by artificially engineered structures known as acoustic metamaterials. The project is expected to lead to a new understanding of acoustic radiation forces, and how they can be efficiently manipulated with high resolution. The expected outcome is a new capability for the measurement of delicate mechanical structures, which avoids the cost, complexity and side-effects of existing systems. This should benefit many high-tech areas, including inflatable space structures, micro-mechanical sensors and actuators and precise optical components, as well as biological areas such as the study of insect flight and communication.Read moreRead less
Enhanced interaction of electromagnetics and mechanics in structured media. This project will investigate the interaction between electromagnetic waves and mechanical motion in structured media. Enhancing this interaction will improve a number of modern technologies, such as nano-scaled motors, traps for biological samples and optical wrenches. Modern fabrication techniques will link the electromagnetic and mechanical properties of media, so that the electromagnetic forces will greatly increase, ....Enhanced interaction of electromagnetics and mechanics in structured media. This project will investigate the interaction between electromagnetic waves and mechanical motion in structured media. Enhancing this interaction will improve a number of modern technologies, such as nano-scaled motors, traps for biological samples and optical wrenches. Modern fabrication techniques will link the electromagnetic and mechanical properties of media, so that the electromagnetic forces will greatly increase, making such devices able to manipulate larger objects. Structured materials can also change their properties dynamically, enabling material properties to be altered in real time. This mechanism will form the basis of advanced tunable components to control waves at visible, infrared, terahertz and microwave wavelengths.Read moreRead less
The acoustics of reed instruments during transients and vibrato: elements of excellence. In the hands and mouth of an expert player, a woodwind reed instrument (for example, clarinet and oboe) can produce a subtle and beautiful sound. Using techniques only available in this lab, this project will determine the physics of the interactions between a player's vocal tract, the vibrating reed and the instrument bore. The project will determine how an expert player can control the initial, final and s ....The acoustics of reed instruments during transients and vibrato: elements of excellence. In the hands and mouth of an expert player, a woodwind reed instrument (for example, clarinet and oboe) can produce a subtle and beautiful sound. Using techniques only available in this lab, this project will determine the physics of the interactions between a player's vocal tract, the vibrating reed and the instrument bore. The project will determine how an expert player can control the initial, final and slurred transients that give grace, elegance and other desired qualities. The project will also study how sustained notes vary with time, with special attention to timbre vibrato, which gives 'warmth' and a lively, 'glowing' quality to their sound. This study will yield important practical results, which can be converted into advances in music teaching.Read moreRead less
Targeted light - optical mode control at the nanoscale. Nanophotonics provides a path for controlling the interaction of light and matter at the nanoscale. Using spatially tailored laser beams to address nano-particles, this project aims to create new approaches for specifically targeting light with nano-scale precision, which has valuable potential applications in biosensing and communications.
Discrete integrable systems. Discrete integrable systems are a fundamental generalisation of traditional integrable systems. This project, combining 5 world experts from 3 countries and 2 early career researchers, will expand and systematise this new interdisciplinary field, and will place Australia at the forefront of this intensive international activity.
Billiards within confocal quadrics and beyond. This project aims to analyse mathematical billiards within domains bounded by confocal conics. Mathematical billiards have applications in any situation that involves collisions and reflections, and any phenomenon that includes reflections and collisions can be modelled using mathematical billiards. This project aims to revolutionise the analysis of billiards within domains bounded by several confocal conics by exploring the relations of such billia ....Billiards within confocal quadrics and beyond. This project aims to analyse mathematical billiards within domains bounded by confocal conics. Mathematical billiards have applications in any situation that involves collisions and reflections, and any phenomenon that includes reflections and collisions can be modelled using mathematical billiards. This project aims to revolutionise the analysis of billiards within domains bounded by several confocal conics by exploring the relations of such billiards with polygonal billiards, and making research advances with the higher-dimensional generalisations within confocal quadrics and their relations with billiards within polyhedra. The project will link several significant areas of scientific work including polygonal billiards, classical integrable systems, Teichmuller spaces, and relativity theory. The project outcomes will have impact across areas of mathematics such as geometry, algebraic geometry, and dynamical systems.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.