Dark-field: A new kind of x-ray imaging. This project aims to develop new x-ray imaging capabilities that look inside an object and map out those details that are too small to be seen directly, by extracting the dark-field which is produced as x-ray light scatters. Dark-field images can reveal tiny cracks in manufactured parts, discover powdered explosives or drugs during security screening, and detect changes in the size of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs. Expected outcomes of this project ....Dark-field: A new kind of x-ray imaging. This project aims to develop new x-ray imaging capabilities that look inside an object and map out those details that are too small to be seen directly, by extracting the dark-field which is produced as x-ray light scatters. Dark-field images can reveal tiny cracks in manufactured parts, discover powdered explosives or drugs during security screening, and detect changes in the size of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs. Expected outcomes of this project include new instruments and methods of analysis that will allow x-ray dark-field imaging to be quantitative and widely adopted. These methods should benefit non-invasive multi-scale imaging at the Australian Synchrotron and equip x-ray imaging in industry, security and healthcare.Read moreRead less
Measurement and Prediction of Vulnerable Plaque Formation and Rupture. The major health problem of atherosclerosis, leading to large numbers of deaths from heart attacks and strokes worldwide, will be studied by a multidisciplinary team. Better understanding of how the disease evolves and its earlier detection will arise from this project, which will use synchrotron imaging and supercomputer prediction.
Imaging the invisible. This project aims to develop imaging technology to see and quantify objects normally invisible with X-rays. It will develop an X-ray imaging system that should provide orders of magnitude greater sensitivity to subtle changes in material composition than conventional radiography. It will devise quantitative image analysis tools for isolating specific materials of interest from complex multi-material samples, including low density components that often go undetected. Indust ....Imaging the invisible. This project aims to develop imaging technology to see and quantify objects normally invisible with X-rays. It will develop an X-ray imaging system that should provide orders of magnitude greater sensitivity to subtle changes in material composition than conventional radiography. It will devise quantitative image analysis tools for isolating specific materials of interest from complex multi-material samples, including low density components that often go undetected. Industries that could benefit significantly from this technology include airport security, the mining sector, agriculture, manufacturing quality control, and biomedical researchers studying anatomical form and function.Read moreRead less
Electrohydrodynamically-Driven Microcentrifugation for Microfluidic Applications. Microfluidics has the potential to revolutionise the way we live. Imagine portable pocket sized devices for cheap and rapid medical diagnostics and drug delivery. Or miniaturised chemical/biological sensors as early warning detection systems against terrorist threats. The research is thus intended to not only commercially benefit various industries, but also to improve the quality of life as a whole by making medic ....Electrohydrodynamically-Driven Microcentrifugation for Microfluidic Applications. Microfluidics has the potential to revolutionise the way we live. Imagine portable pocket sized devices for cheap and rapid medical diagnostics and drug delivery. Or miniaturised chemical/biological sensors as early warning detection systems against terrorist threats. The research is thus intended to not only commercially benefit various industries, but also to improve the quality of life as a whole by making medical diagnosis or chemical/biological detection more readily accessible, portable and more efficient. Moreover, the fundamental studies, aimed at generating an understanding of the complex physics involved, has generic benefits to researchers in applied physics as well as providing practical protocols for microdevice development.Read moreRead less
Renewable energy generation from flow-induced vibration. Much engineering effort has been expended to eliminate vibration of marine structures. This project seeks to provide the basis for the development of tidal energy harnessing, by deliberately amplifying and harnessing vibration. This technology offers the promise of capturing clean, zero-emissions energy, while presenting no risk to marine life.
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
Shuffle algebras and vertex models. Shuffle algebras are important new mathematical structures that offer a new approaches and techniques to solve outstanding open problems in a variety of branches of mathematics, including mathematical physics, algebraic geometry and combinatorics. This project proposes to find solutions to key open problems using connections between shuffle algebras and integrable lattice models. The expected outcomes include (i) a new framework of shuffle algebra techniques t ....Shuffle algebras and vertex models. Shuffle algebras are important new mathematical structures that offer a new approaches and techniques to solve outstanding open problems in a variety of branches of mathematics, including mathematical physics, algebraic geometry and combinatorics. This project proposes to find solutions to key open problems using connections between shuffle algebras and integrable lattice models. The expected outcomes include (i) a new framework of shuffle algebra techniques to solve challenging research problems in mathematical physics and statistical mechanics, (ii) practical and computationally feasible constructions of shuffle algebras using vertex models, (iii) solutions to unresolved spectral problems of open quantum systems.Read moreRead less
Matrix product multi-variable polynomials from quantum algebras. This project aims to expand the theory of polynomials and develop generalised polynomial families using connections to affine and toroidal algebras. Many combinatorial and computational problems in pure and applied mathematics as well as mathematical physics can be solved using polynomials in many variables, such as Macdonald polynomials. This project is anticipated to address the current difficulty of implementing symmetric and no ....Matrix product multi-variable polynomials from quantum algebras. This project aims to expand the theory of polynomials and develop generalised polynomial families using connections to affine and toroidal algebras. Many combinatorial and computational problems in pure and applied mathematics as well as mathematical physics can be solved using polynomials in many variables, such as Macdonald polynomials. This project is anticipated to address the current difficulty of implementing symmetric and non-symmetric polynomials in symbolic algebra packages by developing completely new algorithms. New understanding from the project is expected to facilitate challenging computational problems of measurable quantities in quantum systems.Read moreRead less
Analysis and application of a Lagrangian turbulence model for smoothed particle hydrodynamics. The project will use a new turbulence model to improve the predictions of chaotic motions that include plunging waves, fast flows carrying sediment and the mixing of pollutants.
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.