Non-equilibrium presolvation electron processes at the gas-liquid interface. The interaction of low-temperature plasma electrons with liquids has served as a reducing agent in various technological applications in water treatment, agriculture, biofuels and medicine. Predictive control of the plasma-liquid interface is essential to unlocking the potential of these applications, and this has been limited by the absence of the relevant non-equilibrium transport theory describing electrons at the pl ....Non-equilibrium presolvation electron processes at the gas-liquid interface. The interaction of low-temperature plasma electrons with liquids has served as a reducing agent in various technological applications in water treatment, agriculture, biofuels and medicine. Predictive control of the plasma-liquid interface is essential to unlocking the potential of these applications, and this has been limited by the absence of the relevant non-equilibrium transport theory describing electrons at the plasma-liquid interface together with fundamental data describing electron interactions with liquids. The project will develop a state of the art presolvation electron transport model informed by world first measurements of electron cross-sections for radicals and liquids and apply it to model plasma electrochemistry processes.Read moreRead less
Electron, positron, and heavy-particle collisions with molecules. This project aims to develop a computational approach to collisions involving molecular targets with electrons, positrons and heavy particles. Recently, the approach to atomic collisions, the Convergent Close Coupling (CCC) method, has been extended and verified for positron, electron, and heavy particle collisions with the simplest molecular systems (molecular hydrogen and its ion). This project now aims to extend the CCC method ....Electron, positron, and heavy-particle collisions with molecules. This project aims to develop a computational approach to collisions involving molecular targets with electrons, positrons and heavy particles. Recently, the approach to atomic collisions, the Convergent Close Coupling (CCC) method, has been extended and verified for positron, electron, and heavy particle collisions with the simplest molecular systems (molecular hydrogen and its ion). This project now aims to extend the CCC method to study collisions with more complex molecules. Expected benefits include more accurate data for diagnostic tools such as Positron Emission Tomography, and potential advances in particle-based cancer therapy.Read moreRead less
Understanding molecular negative ion production for use in pathology. The project aims to increase the yield of molecular negative ion sources by improving our understanding of the formation of ion beams from plasma sources and expand our knowledge of molecular negative ion generation in plasma environments leading to brighter ion beams. For example, understanding cancer requires cellular level tools to map how cells are changing. These maps are made using ion beams which are scanned across cell ....Understanding molecular negative ion production for use in pathology. The project aims to increase the yield of molecular negative ion sources by improving our understanding of the formation of ion beams from plasma sources and expand our knowledge of molecular negative ion generation in plasma environments leading to brighter ion beams. For example, understanding cancer requires cellular level tools to map how cells are changing. These maps are made using ion beams which are scanned across cells to remove material that is analysed at the atomic and molecular level. Ion beams are produced from plasma sources, but much of their operation is not understood. Such improved ion beams are expected to enable inexpensive and fast cellular level pathology at even small hospitals to tackle cancer for society’s benefit.Read moreRead less
Auger, Quantum Electro-Dynamics, Axions and New Technology. New technology developed by Australia, Sweden and the United States will be applied to major questions about the application of relativistic quantum mechanics to atomic structure and dynamics and spectroscopy, especially including critical issues in quantum electro-dynamics for atomic physics and applications. Discrepancies in quantum electro-dynamics have dominated international debate for decades, with claimed explanations annually fa ....Auger, Quantum Electro-Dynamics, Axions and New Technology. New technology developed by Australia, Sweden and the United States will be applied to major questions about the application of relativistic quantum mechanics to atomic structure and dynamics and spectroscopy, especially including critical issues in quantum electro-dynamics for atomic physics and applications. Discrepancies in quantum electro-dynamics have dominated international debate for decades, with claimed explanations annually failing to reveal the cause. Also a pattern of discrepancies has been seen at X-ray energies in first row metal atoms, with a similar sign and magnitude. A combined experimental an theoretical investigation will aim to reveal new light on these anomalies and serve to develop our understanding of the universe.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100151
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$744,000.00
Summary
Multi-kilohertz laser for attosecond and ultrafast science. Griffith University's Australian Attosecond Science Facility was established 12 years ago to facilitate internationally leading research into strong-field laser science. The facility is unique in Australia as it has the capability to precisely manipulate highly-amplified and ultra-short light pulses to investigate the dynamics of matter. The scientific outputs from the facility have delivered important new scientific advances in strong ....Multi-kilohertz laser for attosecond and ultrafast science. Griffith University's Australian Attosecond Science Facility was established 12 years ago to facilitate internationally leading research into strong-field laser science. The facility is unique in Australia as it has the capability to precisely manipulate highly-amplified and ultra-short light pulses to investigate the dynamics of matter. The scientific outputs from the facility have delivered important new scientific advances in strong-field physics enabling the development of new technologies. This grant will be used to procure an upgraded laser system enabling an order of magnitude enhancement of the output light for the next-generation research and maintaining international competitiveness of Australian investigators in this field.Read moreRead less
Antihydrogen formation. This project aims to advance fundamental understanding of collisions involving antimatter. The dominance of matter over antimatter in the Universe is one of the most intriguing questions of today’s science. Researchers at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) are addressing this question by creating antihydrogen and studying its properties, including the gravitational behaviour. By trapping and cooling antihydrogen positive ions, ultra-cold antihydrogen at ....Antihydrogen formation. This project aims to advance fundamental understanding of collisions involving antimatter. The dominance of matter over antimatter in the Universe is one of the most intriguing questions of today’s science. Researchers at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) are addressing this question by creating antihydrogen and studying its properties, including the gravitational behaviour. By trapping and cooling antihydrogen positive ions, ultra-cold antihydrogen atoms can be created and used in free fall experiments at CERN. The convergent close-coupling method and threshold theory will be used to provide the necessary theoretical guidance for the experimental antihydrogen positive ion formation via low-energy positronium-antiproton and positronium-antihydrogen collisions.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101593
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,948.00
Summary
Developing new tools to search for dark matter. This project aims to propose and assist in the development of novel approaches, based on atomic, molecular and optical technologies, to detect dark matter in the laboratory, and thereby establish the identity and microscopic properties of dark matter. The origin and nature of dark matter remains one of the most important outstanding problems in contemporary science. The intended outcome of this project is that the use of our novel methods will enab ....Developing new tools to search for dark matter. This project aims to propose and assist in the development of novel approaches, based on atomic, molecular and optical technologies, to detect dark matter in the laboratory, and thereby establish the identity and microscopic properties of dark matter. The origin and nature of dark matter remains one of the most important outstanding problems in contemporary science. The intended outcome of this project is that the use of our novel methods will enable us to search for forms of dark matter that have remained largely unprobed to date. This in turn is expected to open up new opportunities in the global hunt for dark matter that should improve our chances of finally discovering the nature and properties of dark matter.Read moreRead less
Time-space resolved photoelectron emission to control molecular processes. This project aims to resolve simultaneously the timing and space localisation of photoelectron emission from atoms and molecules as a means for targeted breaking of molecular bonds. Existing techniques determine the timing and spatial characteristics of photoemission independently. The simultaneous time-space resolution will allow for the precise manipulation of photoelectrons by a sequence of phase-stabilised laser pulse ....Time-space resolved photoelectron emission to control molecular processes. This project aims to resolve simultaneously the timing and space localisation of photoelectron emission from atoms and molecules as a means for targeted breaking of molecular bonds. Existing techniques determine the timing and spatial characteristics of photoemission independently. The simultaneous time-space resolution will allow for the precise manipulation of photoelectrons by a sequence of phase-stabilised laser pulses, a technique known as coherent control. The benefit of this project will be the coherently controlled breaking of molecular bonds in oxide, carbonyl and hydrocarbon molecules. The outcome will be a significant step forward in driving complex photochemical reactions in industry.Read moreRead less
Violation of fundamental symmetries in atomic phenomena. Violation of the fundamental symmetries is predicted by unification theories of elementary particles. The aim of this project is to propose new enhanced effects of parity, time reversal and Lorentz invariance violations and perform their calculations needed to test unification theories in atomic and nuclear phenomena. By-products of this project include development of high precision computer codes for atomic calculations and theory of pro ....Violation of fundamental symmetries in atomic phenomena. Violation of the fundamental symmetries is predicted by unification theories of elementary particles. The aim of this project is to propose new enhanced effects of parity, time reversal and Lorentz invariance violations and perform their calculations needed to test unification theories in atomic and nuclear phenomena. By-products of this project include development of high precision computer codes for atomic calculations and theory of processes involving atoms and nuclei in chaotic excited states. These codes and theory are expected to have numerous applications (e.g. search for Dark Matter and atomic spectra of superheavy elements, atomic clocks and electron and photon processes).
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101026
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,835.00
Summary
Atomic physics as a probe for fundamental physics and dark matter. The Standard Model is extremely effective at describing the fundamental particles and interactions, but is known to be incomplete. This project aims to uncover new signatures of physics beyond the Standard Model that may be observed in atomic experiments. This project expects to generate new knowledge to help unravel the mystery of dark matter, which accounts for the majority (85%) of the matter in the universe. Expected outcomes ....Atomic physics as a probe for fundamental physics and dark matter. The Standard Model is extremely effective at describing the fundamental particles and interactions, but is known to be incomplete. This project aims to uncover new signatures of physics beyond the Standard Model that may be observed in atomic experiments. This project expects to generate new knowledge to help unravel the mystery of dark matter, which accounts for the majority (85%) of the matter in the universe. Expected outcomes include extending theoretical atomic physics methods, calculating new observable atomic effects, and combining these with experiments to probe fundamental physics and search for dark matter. These outcomes would contribute to the expanding knowledge in the fields of atomic and fundamental physics.Read moreRead less