Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101443
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$343,450.00
Summary
Composite quantum systems at the interplay with general relativity. This project aims to develop an operational framework for time and causality at a quantum and gravity interface, testable with nascent quantum technologies. The notion of time is not fully understood in physics, yet it is among the most precisely measurable quantities. The project expects to deliver new knowledge in the foundations of quantum physics by developing mathematical tools which are relevant beyond the context of gravi ....Composite quantum systems at the interplay with general relativity. This project aims to develop an operational framework for time and causality at a quantum and gravity interface, testable with nascent quantum technologies. The notion of time is not fully understood in physics, yet it is among the most precisely measurable quantities. The project expects to deliver new knowledge in the foundations of quantum physics by developing mathematical tools which are relevant beyond the context of gravity. Expected outcomes include enhanced understanding of the notions of time and causality in quantum physics, and formulation of new experimental paradigms to test them. The project will enhance our understanding of the notion of time in quantum theory, bringing a cultural benefit to the scientific community and the general public.Read moreRead less
Gravity effects in quantum clocks and sensors: foundations and applications. Time is among the most precisely measurable quantities in physics, yet it is also the least understood concept in physics. This project aims to develop a mathematical framework describing measurements of time with high-precision clocks sensitive to both quantum and gravitational effects. The project expects to deliver new knowledge in the foundations of quantum physics by describing new gravitational effects in quantum ....Gravity effects in quantum clocks and sensors: foundations and applications. Time is among the most precisely measurable quantities in physics, yet it is also the least understood concept in physics. This project aims to develop a mathematical framework describing measurements of time with high-precision clocks sensitive to both quantum and gravitational effects. The project expects to deliver new knowledge in the foundations of quantum physics by describing new gravitational effects in quantum systems. Expected outcomes include enhanced understanding of time in quantum theory and strategies for harnessing gravitational effects in high-precision clocks, bringing cultural benefits to society and paving the way towards improved quantum technologies that are expected to bring economic benefits in the next two decades. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100129
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,000.00
Summary
Equipment and instrumentation for breaking the quantum measurement barrier. This equipment will support Australia's partnership in the international effort to detect gravitational waves, which would allow the first direct observation of black holes and mark the beginning of exploration of the gravitational wave spectrum.
Three-Mode interactions and optical springs in high power optical cavities. Gravitational waves are tiny vibrations of space and time which carry vast energy. They will allow the first direct observation of black holes. To make frequent detections this project will harness the force of intense laser light, and use this force to improve the sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors.
Enhancing gravitational wave detector sensitivity and bandwidth for astronomy. This project aims to create small optomechanical devices that amplify the signals in gravitational wave detectors, increasing their sensitivity, especially for higher frequency signals. Calibrated against the 2015 first detection of gravitational waves from black hole mergers, this technology could allow humanity to listen to black holes merging up to 30 times every day, while giving much greater sensitivity to signal ....Enhancing gravitational wave detector sensitivity and bandwidth for astronomy. This project aims to create small optomechanical devices that amplify the signals in gravitational wave detectors, increasing their sensitivity, especially for higher frequency signals. Calibrated against the 2015 first detection of gravitational waves from black hole mergers, this technology could allow humanity to listen to black holes merging up to 30 times every day, while giving much greater sensitivity to signals from smaller black holes and neutron stars. The new technology, which uses nano-scale suspended tiny mirrors controlled by laser light, is likely to have applications in making sensors and quantum devices for advanced instrumentation, improve mineral exploration and measure tiny electromagnetic signals.Read moreRead less
Quantum enhancement of long baseline gravitational wave detectors. This project will design and construct a quantum optical system which when used in future long baseline gravitational wave detectors will enhance sensitivity across their detection frequency band, from 10 Hz to 10 kHz. This project will use this system on small scale optical sensors to prove the concept. In so doing, it will use squeezing to reduce quantum radiation pressure noise for the first time. This system will then be read ....Quantum enhancement of long baseline gravitational wave detectors. This project will design and construct a quantum optical system which when used in future long baseline gravitational wave detectors will enhance sensitivity across their detection frequency band, from 10 Hz to 10 kHz. This project will use this system on small scale optical sensors to prove the concept. In so doing, it will use squeezing to reduce quantum radiation pressure noise for the first time. This system will then be ready for deployment on an early upgrade of Advanced LIGO increasing the science output of this detector, turning gravitational wave detection into gravitational wave astronomy.Read moreRead less
Quantum enhancement of gravitational wave astronomy. The project aims to design, build and test a long wavelength ‘squeezed vacuum’ source reducing quantum noise by more than a factor of 10 across the audio frequency band with long term stability and reliability. This quantum technology is one of three key areas of improvement planned for the gravitational wave detector, LIGO Voyager. The project will enhance the sensitivity and the reach of gravitational wave astronomy and cosmology, and improv ....Quantum enhancement of gravitational wave astronomy. The project aims to design, build and test a long wavelength ‘squeezed vacuum’ source reducing quantum noise by more than a factor of 10 across the audio frequency band with long term stability and reliability. This quantum technology is one of three key areas of improvement planned for the gravitational wave detector, LIGO Voyager. The project will enhance the sensitivity and the reach of gravitational wave astronomy and cosmology, and improve the fidelity and reach of gravitational wave observations. Technologies developed may find application in other areas of precision measurements and gravitational wave observations .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