Ion-atom collision data for fusion energy, hadron therapy and astrophysics. This project aims to combine experimental and theoretical efforts to generate accurate data required for the development and maintenance of fusion reactors, treatment planning in hadron therapy of cancerous tumours, and modelling astrophysical phenomena. Hadron therapy has been used successfully worldwide for over a decade with Australia’s first such facility, the Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy, currently under construc ....Ion-atom collision data for fusion energy, hadron therapy and astrophysics. This project aims to combine experimental and theoretical efforts to generate accurate data required for the development and maintenance of fusion reactors, treatment planning in hadron therapy of cancerous tumours, and modelling astrophysical phenomena. Hadron therapy has been used successfully worldwide for over a decade with Australia’s first such facility, the Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy, currently under construction. Fusion reactors are a source of abundant green energy. Immense progress is being made in their construction and underlying technology. Currently, there is an urgent demand for accurate data on ion-beam collisions with atoms and molecules for the aforementioned applications. This project intends to meet this demand.Read moreRead less
Electron-molecule collisions in fusion and astrophysical plasmas. This project will apply innovative methods developed in Australia to accurately model electron collisions with diatomic hydrides. It will generate new knowledge of the dynamics underlying fundamental chemical reactions, and bring international scientists together to study the influence of molecules in plasmas more accurately than ever before. Outcomes will include essential diagnostics for fusion reactors, methods for using the Ja ....Electron-molecule collisions in fusion and astrophysical plasmas. This project will apply innovative methods developed in Australia to accurately model electron collisions with diatomic hydrides. It will generate new knowledge of the dynamics underlying fundamental chemical reactions, and bring international scientists together to study the influence of molecules in plasmas more accurately than ever before. Outcomes will include essential diagnostics for fusion reactors, methods for using the James Webb Space Telescope to study astrophysical clouds, and strengthened ties between Australia and the global plasma physics community. The significant benefits will include accelerating the development of fusion technology as an alternative to fossil fuels, and furthering our understanding of stellar evolution.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100176
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,987.00
Summary
Quantum studies of dissociative electron attachment to molecules. The ability to predict the outcomes of molecular collisions is a difficult, yet important, problem with many applications in science and industry. Recent work at Curtin University has led to the first complete solution of the electronic part of the scattering problem for collisions with the hydrogen molecule, a major breakthrough in the field. This project will build on this progress to accurately model the nuclear motion during c ....Quantum studies of dissociative electron attachment to molecules. The ability to predict the outcomes of molecular collisions is a difficult, yet important, problem with many applications in science and industry. Recent work at Curtin University has led to the first complete solution of the electronic part of the scattering problem for collisions with the hydrogen molecule, a major breakthrough in the field. This project will build on this progress to accurately model the nuclear motion during collisions, which will enable the first calculations of molecular dissociation processes without the use of approximations. The data which will be produced is highly sought-after in fusion energy and astrophysics applications.Read moreRead less
Towards non-thermal hydrogen-boron fusion. Laser-induced non-thermal fusion of hydrogen and boron 11 is a promising approach to reach practical sustainable energy generation. In addition, being aneutronic, this specific fusion reaction virtually avoids the deleterious environmental impact associated with high energy neutron radiation. The recent observation of this reaction under non-thermal conditions is not only exciting but begs for a better understanding of its dynamics. This industry suppor ....Towards non-thermal hydrogen-boron fusion. Laser-induced non-thermal fusion of hydrogen and boron 11 is a promising approach to reach practical sustainable energy generation. In addition, being aneutronic, this specific fusion reaction virtually avoids the deleterious environmental impact associated with high energy neutron radiation. The recent observation of this reaction under non-thermal conditions is not only exciting but begs for a better understanding of its dynamics. This industry supported proposal thus aims at establishing an experimentally-proven analysis framework underpinning the future development of a viable hydrogen-boron fusion reactor. In the long term, its successful implementation would constitute a sea change by providing a virtually limitless source of energy.Read moreRead less