Generalised Energy Based Robust and Nonlinear Control Systems. This project aims to develop new energy-based theories of robust stability analysis and controller design for both linear and nonlinear systems, building on passivity and negative imaginary system theories and their physical interpretations along with stochastic optimal control theory. These control theories would allow for a wide range of plant dynamics in the design of high-performance robust control systems, enabling advances in e ....Generalised Energy Based Robust and Nonlinear Control Systems. This project aims to develop new energy-based theories of robust stability analysis and controller design for both linear and nonlinear systems, building on passivity and negative imaginary system theories and their physical interpretations along with stochastic optimal control theory. These control theories would allow for a wide range of plant dynamics in the design of high-performance robust control systems, enabling advances in emerging technologies including nanopositioning, micro-electromechanical systems and opto-mechatronics. The project plans to combine these theoretical advances with numerical methods involving advanced optimisation tools and the experimental implementation of nanopositioning control systems in atomic force microscopy.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL150100019
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,041,282.00
Summary
Precision laser levitation for quantum metrology and gravitational sensing. Precision laser levitation for quantum metrology and gravitational sensing: This fellowship project aims to levitate macroscopic objects using only laser beams, to provide a new tool to test physics theories. Strong laser beams can exert sufficient force to counteract gravity and make an object levitate. In contrast to other forms of levitation, laser levitation is scatter-free and can preserve system coherence. It has s ....Precision laser levitation for quantum metrology and gravitational sensing. Precision laser levitation for quantum metrology and gravitational sensing: This fellowship project aims to levitate macroscopic objects using only laser beams, to provide a new tool to test physics theories. Strong laser beams can exert sufficient force to counteract gravity and make an object levitate. In contrast to other forms of levitation, laser levitation is scatter-free and can preserve system coherence. It has superior optical and mechanical quality factors and complete information of the system dynamics is retained. This allows laser levitation to be turned into a highly controllable and ultra-sensitive device capable of detecting minute environmental changes. This research aims to probe the relationship between quantum and gravitational physics and develop laser levitation into a precision instrument for the sensing of gravity. Laser levitation has the potential to be developed into technology for mineral exploration and environmental sensing.Read moreRead less
Coherent Laser Levitation for Precision Sensing and Enabling Science. When light collides with matter, it may exert a force called radiation pressure. This project aims to use radiation pressure to levitate a small mirror. Using a tripod of laser beams, it is possible to levitate and trap the mirror in a stable position. Radiation pressure has been used before to levitate, but previous work has always involved scattering light from the levitating object. This project proposes the use of a high q ....Coherent Laser Levitation for Precision Sensing and Enabling Science. When light collides with matter, it may exert a force called radiation pressure. This project aims to use radiation pressure to levitate a small mirror. Using a tripod of laser beams, it is possible to levitate and trap the mirror in a stable position. Radiation pressure has been used before to levitate, but previous work has always involved scattering light from the levitating object. This project proposes the use of a high quality mirror, allowing the collection of the reflected light and the accurate measurement and control of the position of the mirror as it floats on the laser beams. Using the unique properties of the floating mirror, it will be possible to search for signatures of quantum gravity and develop tools for ultra-precision metrology.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100008
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
Australian Seismic Imaging Array. The project aims to create a facility for developing techniques for imaging the deep earth and the surface motion in ambient seismic waves created by wind, waves and human activity. The techniques will enable sources of seismic vibrations to be identified and suppressed, and will allow mapping techniques to be developed for monitoring and discovery of resources such as ground water. Gravitational wave researchers will benefit from the ability to suppress seismic ....Australian Seismic Imaging Array. The project aims to create a facility for developing techniques for imaging the deep earth and the surface motion in ambient seismic waves created by wind, waves and human activity. The techniques will enable sources of seismic vibrations to be identified and suppressed, and will allow mapping techniques to be developed for monitoring and discovery of resources such as ground water. Gravitational wave researchers will benefit from the ability to suppress seismic vibrations, while geophysicists will benefit from new techniques and training. Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions. This Centre aims to answer fundamental questions in astrophysics including the origin of matter and the periodic table of elements, and the origin of ionisation in the Universe. It intends to use Australian three-dimensional technology to transform our understanding of the Universe. It will unify world-leading Australian optical and radio surveys with theoretical simulations and new e-Science techniques for Peta-scale data sets. ....ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions. This Centre aims to answer fundamental questions in astrophysics including the origin of matter and the periodic table of elements, and the origin of ionisation in the Universe. It intends to use Australian three-dimensional technology to transform our understanding of the Universe. It will unify world-leading Australian optical and radio surveys with theoretical simulations and new e-Science techniques for Peta-scale data sets. The Centre will also nurture young scientific leaders and make high-school students interested in STEM sciences through education and outreach programmes. It is expected the research will propel Australia to the forefront of astronomical research for the coming decade while capitalising on innovative instrumentation.Read moreRead less
Analysis of asteroid samples returned by Hayabusa 2 and Osiris-REx . This year sees the highly anticipated return of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft to Woomera carrying samples of the asteroid Ryugu. This is only the fifth extraterrestrial sample return mission in history. The research team has been invited to participate in the preliminary examination which will take place in Japan in early 2021. The investigators have developed unique analytical skills that allow measurement of small amounts of rock ....Analysis of asteroid samples returned by Hayabusa 2 and Osiris-REx . This year sees the highly anticipated return of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft to Woomera carrying samples of the asteroid Ryugu. This is only the fifth extraterrestrial sample return mission in history. The research team has been invited to participate in the preliminary examination which will take place in Japan in early 2021. The investigators have developed unique analytical skills that allow measurement of small amounts of rock for oxygen isotope compositions at unprecedented precision. This project aims to characterise a suite of carbonaceous chondrites, which appear to be the best match to Ryugu, and therefore will provide the exemplar data to understand the provenance of Ryugu, and place it in the context of solar system materials.
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ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics. The CNBP brings together physicists, chemists and biologists focused on a grand challenge controlling nanoscale interactions between light and matter to probe the complex and dynamic nanoenvironments within living organisms. The emerging convergence of nanoscience and photonics offers the opportunity of using light to interrogate nanoscale domains, providing unprecedentedly localised measurements. This will allow biological scientists to unde ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics. The CNBP brings together physicists, chemists and biologists focused on a grand challenge controlling nanoscale interactions between light and matter to probe the complex and dynamic nanoenvironments within living organisms. The emerging convergence of nanoscience and photonics offers the opportunity of using light to interrogate nanoscale domains, providing unprecedentedly localised measurements. This will allow biological scientists to understand how single cells react to and communicate with their surroundings. This science will underpin a new generation of devices capable of probing the response of cells within individuals to environmental conditions or treatment, creating innovative and powerful new sensing platforms.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100004
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$502,453.00
Summary
Semiconductor laser for adaptive optics in astronomy and space awareness. This project aims to create a laser system for use as a laser guide star. Semiconductor laser technology is a cost effective, highly reliable and compact alternative to expensive, inefficient, bulky laser systems. This laser has wide scientific appeal for research with telescopes in astronomy, and for satellite tracking and mitigation of the threat of space debris. Producing a sodium laser guide star in Australia is expect ....Semiconductor laser for adaptive optics in astronomy and space awareness. This project aims to create a laser system for use as a laser guide star. Semiconductor laser technology is a cost effective, highly reliable and compact alternative to expensive, inefficient, bulky laser systems. This laser has wide scientific appeal for research with telescopes in astronomy, and for satellite tracking and mitigation of the threat of space debris. Producing a sodium laser guide star in Australia is expected to secure the country's position as the premier provider of commercial-grade laser guide star adaptive optics systems for civil and defence telescopes around the world.Read moreRead less
Illuminating the cosmic web with Fast Radio Bursts. This project aims to establish the use of millisecond-duration Fast Radio Bursts as a wholly new means to map out the distribution of matter in the Universe. This project expects to localise 100s of bursts using novel infrastructure deployed on Australia's largest radio telescopes. Expected outcomes include an understanding of the processes that shape both the large-scale structures of the Universe, and the extreme conditions that exist at the ....Illuminating the cosmic web with Fast Radio Bursts. This project aims to establish the use of millisecond-duration Fast Radio Bursts as a wholly new means to map out the distribution of matter in the Universe. This project expects to localise 100s of bursts using novel infrastructure deployed on Australia's largest radio telescopes. Expected outcomes include an understanding of the processes that shape both the large-scale structures of the Universe, and the extreme conditions that exist at the sites of Fast Radio Bursts. This should provide significant benefits to our fundamental knowledge of the Universe, inspire students into careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and develop signal processing techniques of application to both the Square Kilometre Array and industry.Read moreRead less
High-cadence near-infrared imaging. This project aims to deploy a cryogenic camera system to improve the outputs of astronomical telescopes. The system is equipped with an emerging detector technology, a near-infrared Avalanche Photo-Diode array, capable of high cadence imaging with frame rates of 10 - 1,000 Hz at a wavelength of around 2.2 microns. This new technology is a key component to the future of adaptive optics systems for astronomical telescopes as it allows the rapid measurements nece ....High-cadence near-infrared imaging. This project aims to deploy a cryogenic camera system to improve the outputs of astronomical telescopes. The system is equipped with an emerging detector technology, a near-infrared Avalanche Photo-Diode array, capable of high cadence imaging with frame rates of 10 - 1,000 Hz at a wavelength of around 2.2 microns. This new technology is a key component to the future of adaptive optics systems for astronomical telescopes as it allows the rapid measurements necessary to correct the image blurring introduced by the Earth's atmosphere. No expertise currently exists in Australia with this new technology. Capitalising on previous investment, the camera system is intended to fill a capability gap in local expertise and to ensure the potential of the next generation of telescopes is realised and strengthen our competitive edge for frontier instrumentation across the wider Australian imaging community.Read moreRead less