An upgraded pulsar timing array for gravitational wave detection. Millisecond pulsars are remarkably regularly-rotating neutron stars that offer the opportunity to detect gravitational waves via the technique known as pulsar timing. Australia has long been a world leader in the discovery and timing of millisecond pulsars, and the Parkes pulsar timing array is one of three major programmes in the world aimed at making the first direct detection of gravitational waves in any frequency band. This p ....An upgraded pulsar timing array for gravitational wave detection. Millisecond pulsars are remarkably regularly-rotating neutron stars that offer the opportunity to detect gravitational waves via the technique known as pulsar timing. Australia has long been a world leader in the discovery and timing of millisecond pulsars, and the Parkes pulsar timing array is one of three major programmes in the world aimed at making the first direct detection of gravitational waves in any frequency band. This project is designed to capitalise on Australia's position of strength in this field by extending the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array dataset (PPTA) so that it has the best chance of detecting gravitational waves in the nanohertz regime until the SKA pathfinders start to come online in 2017.Read moreRead less
Gravitational wave detection with current and future radio telescopes. This project will aim to detect gravitational waves using precision pulsar timing observations. Direct detection of these waves is of huge international importance and will keep Australia at the forefront of the new research field of gravitational wave astronomy that will continue to grow with the planned radio telescopes of the future.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100032
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$990,000.00
Summary
Australian partnership in advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) - continuation. Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Obervatory (LIGO) will be the first gravitational wave observatory capable of frequent observation of known sources of gravitational waves leading to the birth of gravitational wave astronomy. By playing a key role in this facility, Australia will reap the scientific rewards of being part of the most exciting frontier of physics in the 2 ....Australian partnership in advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) - continuation. Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Obervatory (LIGO) will be the first gravitational wave observatory capable of frequent observation of known sources of gravitational waves leading to the birth of gravitational wave astronomy. By playing a key role in this facility, Australia will reap the scientific rewards of being part of the most exciting frontier of physics in the 21st century.Read moreRead less
Dark matter, dark energy, and dark flow: galaxy motion reveals fundamental physics. The twin mysteries of dark matter and dark energy present a profound challenge to modern physics. Capitalising on new Australian technology to measure the motion of tens of thousands of galaxies, we will detect unseen matter by its gravitational influence and thus illuminate the nature of the dark components of the universe.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100212
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Deep investigations of galaxies and pulsars. A new detector for the Parkes radio telescope will be made which will enable the use of new techniques for removing radio interference and, as a result, will allow researchers to detect fainter and more distant objects in the Universe than previously possible.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
An Ultra-wideband Radio Receiver for the Parkes 64-metre Radio Telescope. An ultra-wideband radio receiver for the Parkes 64-metre radio telescope: This project aims to construct a state-of-the-art ultra-wide-band receiver and signal processing system for the Parkes 64-metre radio telescope. The receiver will operate across the entire 700 megahertz to four gigahertz band with outstanding sensitivity and polarimetric performance, providing a unique capability for high-time-resolution wide-bandwid ....An Ultra-wideband Radio Receiver for the Parkes 64-metre Radio Telescope. An ultra-wideband radio receiver for the Parkes 64-metre radio telescope: This project aims to construct a state-of-the-art ultra-wide-band receiver and signal processing system for the Parkes 64-metre radio telescope. The receiver will operate across the entire 700 megahertz to four gigahertz band with outstanding sensitivity and polarimetric performance, providing a unique capability for high-time-resolution wide-bandwidth astronomy. It is expected to deliver enhanced science outcomes for a wide range of projects and greatly improve the telescope's operational efficiency, extending its lifetime into the Square Kilometre Array era. Key science projects include tests of theories of relativistic gravitation, including the search for gravitational waves, probing neutron star interiors and investigations of the magnetic structure of our galaxy.Read moreRead less
Instrumentation for the era of gravitational wave science. This project aims to study noise sources that limit the low-frequency performance of gravitational wave antenna: thermal noise, quantum radiation pressure noise and Newtonian noise. Gravitational wave detection is a new way in which to observe our universe. Although detectors such as advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) should detect gravitational waves, further sensitivity improvement, particularly at low ....Instrumentation for the era of gravitational wave science. This project aims to study noise sources that limit the low-frequency performance of gravitational wave antenna: thermal noise, quantum radiation pressure noise and Newtonian noise. Gravitational wave detection is a new way in which to observe our universe. Although detectors such as advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) should detect gravitational waves, further sensitivity improvement, particularly at low frequencies, will be needed to provide event rates necessary for astronomy. Expected project outcomes will support the development of the first free mass interferometer to operate at 120K using silicon optics, a vital facility for the world community. Pushing the boundaries of measurement may also drive innovation in optical sensing with potential applications in defence, security and exploration.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100002
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,000,000.00
Summary
Australian Partnership in Advanced LIGO+: continuation. The aim of this project is, in collaboration with the USA and UK, to complete the installation and commissioning of the Advanced LIGO+ facilities in the USA in order to bring them to design sensitivity. These facilities expect to increase the event rate of gravitational wave signals by a factor of 125. This should lead to daily detections and the observation of new sources of gravitational waves. Given that only 5% of the universe is detect ....Australian Partnership in Advanced LIGO+: continuation. The aim of this project is, in collaboration with the USA and UK, to complete the installation and commissioning of the Advanced LIGO+ facilities in the USA in order to bring them to design sensitivity. These facilities expect to increase the event rate of gravitational wave signals by a factor of 125. This should lead to daily detections and the observation of new sources of gravitational waves. Given that only 5% of the universe is detectable by telescopes, the impact of gravitational wave detections on our understanding of the universe is inestimable. Australian partnership intends to enable our physicists and astronomers to be at the vanguard of this brand new field and inspire a new generation to study the physical sciences.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL150100148
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,840,752.00
Summary
Exascale astronomy: real-time analysis of the transient radio universe. Exascale astronomy: real-time analysis of the transient radio universe: This fellowship project aims to develop and deploy a generic supercomputing solution for the powerful square kilometre array precursor telescopes in Australia and South Africa. ‘Fast radio bursts’ are a new astronomical phenomenon of as yet unknown origin, with enormous potential to probe the cosmos in new ways — but only a handful are known. Concurrentl ....Exascale astronomy: real-time analysis of the transient radio universe. Exascale astronomy: real-time analysis of the transient radio universe: This fellowship project aims to develop and deploy a generic supercomputing solution for the powerful square kilometre array precursor telescopes in Australia and South Africa. ‘Fast radio bursts’ are a new astronomical phenomenon of as yet unknown origin, with enormous potential to probe the cosmos in new ways — but only a handful are known. Concurrently, advances in computer graphics have enabled very low-cost parallel processors to be constructed that are revolutionising radio astronomy signal processing. The telescopes in Australia and South Africa will be used to discover new fast radio bursts, and will also be pursuing a pulsar timing program which seeks to probe the interior of neutron stars, search for gravitational waves and make new tests of general relativity.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100217
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$850,000.00
Summary
Australian Partnership in Advanced LIGO+. This project aims to improve the sensitivity of the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (aLIGO). aLIGO’s detection of gravitational waves proved general relativity in the strong field limit and the existence of black hole binary systems. The increased sensitivity will enable daily detections and new classes of events, opening the field of gravitational wave astronomy. Since telescopes can detect only 5% of the stuff in the univer ....Australian Partnership in Advanced LIGO+. This project aims to improve the sensitivity of the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (aLIGO). aLIGO’s detection of gravitational waves proved general relativity in the strong field limit and the existence of black hole binary systems. The increased sensitivity will enable daily detections and new classes of events, opening the field of gravitational wave astronomy. Since telescopes can detect only 5% of the stuff in the universe, this is expected to greatly improve understanding of the universe. This Australian partnership will put its physicists and astronomers at the vanguard of this field and inspire the next generation to study the physical sciences.Read moreRead less