Discovering the First Generation of Stars in the Galaxy - The Most Metal-Poor Stars. The most metal-poor stars carry a fossil record of the early chemical and dynamical evolution of the Galaxy. The most interesting objects are those with the lowest metal abundances representing the earliest generation of stars in the Galaxy. The aim of the present project is to extend the mining of the HES objective spectra to identify extremely metal-deficient giants, which together with the already identified ....Discovering the First Generation of Stars in the Galaxy - The Most Metal-Poor Stars. The most metal-poor stars carry a fossil record of the early chemical and dynamical evolution of the Galaxy. The most interesting objects are those with the lowest metal abundances representing the earliest generation of stars in the Galaxy. The aim of the present project is to extend the mining of the HES objective spectra to identify extremely metal-deficient giants, which together with the already identified dwarfs will be further distilled using 6dF and the DBS. We anticipate trebling the total number of the most metal deficient stars known and targeting these for observations with 8m telescopes.Read moreRead less
The standard quantum limit and beyond collaboration. Achievement of a limit never before reached in measuring the position of a macroscopic object will produce a new world record for Australia, breaking that limit is akin to breaking the 4 minute mile - a feat previously thought impossible. Not only will this create national pride in our ability to innovate, but the optical technology developed with the opening of the new field of sub-quantum interferometry has the potential to generate tangibl ....The standard quantum limit and beyond collaboration. Achievement of a limit never before reached in measuring the position of a macroscopic object will produce a new world record for Australia, breaking that limit is akin to breaking the 4 minute mile - a feat previously thought impossible. Not only will this create national pride in our ability to innovate, but the optical technology developed with the opening of the new field of sub-quantum interferometry has the potential to generate tangible benefits for Australian industry. This proposal will produce scientists highly trained in technologies related to emerging industries such as photonics.Read moreRead less
Environmental and Technological Applications of Electron-Driven Processes. We plan to use state-of-the-art experimental techniques and methodologies for the measurement of collision cross sections and reaction rates for low energy electron-driven process in molecules and molecular radicals. These processes are fundamental to our understanding of our environment and many devices used in the technology of today and of the future. In particular we will provide accurate cross sections for NOx and SO ....Environmental and Technological Applications of Electron-Driven Processes. We plan to use state-of-the-art experimental techniques and methodologies for the measurement of collision cross sections and reaction rates for low energy electron-driven process in molecules and molecular radicals. These processes are fundamental to our understanding of our environment and many devices used in the technology of today and of the future. In particular we will provide accurate cross sections for NOx and SOx pollutants and H2O, as well for molecules such as C4F8, and its radicals such as CF2, which are used extensively in plasma processing technologies.Read moreRead less
Ionization and excitation of excited helium atoms. Our ability to improve the performance and reliability of electronic devices based around discharge technology relies upon our ability to model and quantify the energy-exchange processes which drive them. Our research will highlight the nature of highly-excited helium atoms and the way they interact with their environment. The purpose of our work is twofold; firstly to provide stringent tests to theory to enhance our understanding of mechanisms ....Ionization and excitation of excited helium atoms. Our ability to improve the performance and reliability of electronic devices based around discharge technology relies upon our ability to model and quantify the energy-exchange processes which drive them. Our research will highlight the nature of highly-excited helium atoms and the way they interact with their environment. The purpose of our work is twofold; firstly to provide stringent tests to theory to enhance our understanding of mechanisms driving discharge-based devices and secondly, to provide benchmark reaction rates which can be used in the modeling of discharge-based devices to improve their performance.Read moreRead less