Superdeformed nuclei and their decay: challenging nuclear models and probing quantum tunnelling. Nuclear superdeformation, where the atomic nucleus adopts an elongated, ellipsoidal shape and can undergo rapid rotation, offers a fascinating opportunity to study quantum mechanical effects in a system where single-particle and collective regimes overlap. The superdeformed shape itself is a spectacular example of collective motion in a mesoscopic system, while the rapid change to a sperhical shape ....Superdeformed nuclei and their decay: challenging nuclear models and probing quantum tunnelling. Nuclear superdeformation, where the atomic nucleus adopts an elongated, ellipsoidal shape and can undergo rapid rotation, offers a fascinating opportunity to study quantum mechanical effects in a system where single-particle and collective regimes overlap. The superdeformed shape itself is a spectacular example of collective motion in a mesoscopic system, while the rapid change to a sperhical shape is an excellent example of quantum-assisted tunnelling. The results of this project will shed light on this important process and provide a stringent test of our understanding of the nucleus.Read moreRead less
Structure of Hadronic Excitations from Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. Quantum chromodynamics describes the fundamental strong interactions between quarks and gluons as they compose hadrons such as the proton or neutron. Beyond these lowest-energy systems, the quantum mechanical excitation spectra display a rich and complex structure. Remarkably, little is known about the internal structure of these states. The central goal of this project is to unveil the nature of hadrons and their excited sta ....Structure of Hadronic Excitations from Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. Quantum chromodynamics describes the fundamental strong interactions between quarks and gluons as they compose hadrons such as the proton or neutron. Beyond these lowest-energy systems, the quantum mechanical excitation spectra display a rich and complex structure. Remarkably, little is known about the internal structure of these states. The central goal of this project is to unveil the nature of hadrons and their excited states using the first principles approach of lattice gauge theory. By elucidating aspects of hadron structure in terms of the most fundamental non-perturbative quark and gluon fields, the project will create new knowledge impacting on renowned experimental programs at international facilities.Read moreRead less
Electromagnetic structure of hadronic excitations from lattice quantum chromodynamics. Just as quantum electrodynamics describes the quantum mechanical excitation spectra of atomic systems, quantum chromodynamics (QCD) describes the excitation spectra of quark and gluon systems, such as the proton. This project will resolve the internal structure of the low-lying excitations of QCD, as being investigated at international facilities.
Isomers as Probes of Nuclear Structure and Sources of Energetic Photons. The aim is to study exotic long-lived states in nuclei using accelerator facilities in Australia and overseas. This involves the development of sensitive instrumentation and will lead to a new understanding of how such states are formed, of how they may be used to identify the structure of exotic nuclei, and on the limits of stability of nuclei in general. Isomers represent a special form of nuclear matter and they play a r ....Isomers as Probes of Nuclear Structure and Sources of Energetic Photons. The aim is to study exotic long-lived states in nuclei using accelerator facilities in Australia and overseas. This involves the development of sensitive instrumentation and will lead to a new understanding of how such states are formed, of how they may be used to identify the structure of exotic nuclei, and on the limits of stability of nuclei in general. Isomers represent a special form of nuclear matter and they play a role in the formation of the elements in stellar nucleosynthesis. Stimulated isomer decay may ultimately lead to new forms of energy storage and gamma-ray lasers.Read moreRead less
Quantum-number purity and limits to the formation of nuclear K-isomers. This internationally competitive research will result in new knowledge and the substantiation of Australian research in the nuclear structure area, as well as adding to our role in international scientific collaborations. The research is an important component of the local expertise in nuclear science established using Australian facilities which provide the major training ground for basic research, a variety of application ....Quantum-number purity and limits to the formation of nuclear K-isomers. This internationally competitive research will result in new knowledge and the substantiation of Australian research in the nuclear structure area, as well as adding to our role in international scientific collaborations. The research is an important component of the local expertise in nuclear science established using Australian facilities which provide the major training ground for basic research, a variety of applications and which also provide a source of strategically important expertise.
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Developing and exploiting a beam of exotic neutron halo nuclei: probing quantum coherence and decoherence at the femtoscale. Developing an Australian rare isotope beam capability with unique features will be a breakthrough in Australia's capability in science. It will create new opportunities for local research with radioactive isotope beams, a field being vigorously developed world-wide, as new access to short-lived radioactive isotopes will open up many opportunities in fundamental research an ....Developing and exploiting a beam of exotic neutron halo nuclei: probing quantum coherence and decoherence at the femtoscale. Developing an Australian rare isotope beam capability with unique features will be a breakthrough in Australia's capability in science. It will create new opportunities for local research with radioactive isotope beams, a field being vigorously developed world-wide, as new access to short-lived radioactive isotopes will open up many opportunities in fundamental research and applications. The experience and strong international linkages from this project will facilitate the longer-term use of future large-scale international facilities. This project will also build links with other areas of research strength in Australia, and keep us at the cutting-edge in research and training in nuclear science, a matter of national importance.Read moreRead less
Breakup and Fusion of Stable and Radioactive Nuclei. All Research Priority areas use tools based on nuclear physics research. Further advances will come from new A$1bn accelerators of radioactive nuclei. Exploiting our new ideas, we will develop a unified framework allowing prediction of the products of nuclear reactions with stable and radioactive nuclei, giving a better understanding of the fundamental process of nuclear fusion, and of radioactive beam applications. Early participation in a si ....Breakup and Fusion of Stable and Radioactive Nuclei. All Research Priority areas use tools based on nuclear physics research. Further advances will come from new A$1bn accelerators of radioactive nuclei. Exploiting our new ideas, we will develop a unified framework allowing prediction of the products of nuclear reactions with stable and radioactive nuclei, giving a better understanding of the fundamental process of nuclear fusion, and of radioactive beam applications. Early participation in a significant new area of research will strengthen Australia's capacity to exploit future opportunities with these accelerators. Top-level research training in nuclear physics, a subject with strategic implications for Australia, will help in the forthcoming international shortage of nuclear experts. Read moreRead less
Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory: Dark matter detector development. This project aims to develop ultra-sensitive detector technology essential for SABRE, a Northern and Southern Hemisphere dual-detector experiment. The SABRE facilities operate to directly detect galactic dark matter. Dark matter makes up 23% of the observable universe but the evidence for its existence is indirect. The direct detection of dark matter would be a discovery on par with gravitational waves and the Higgs boson. ....Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory: Dark matter detector development. This project aims to develop ultra-sensitive detector technology essential for SABRE, a Northern and Southern Hemisphere dual-detector experiment. The SABRE facilities operate to directly detect galactic dark matter. Dark matter makes up 23% of the observable universe but the evidence for its existence is indirect. The direct detection of dark matter would be a discovery on par with gravitational waves and the Higgs boson. This project is an opportunity for Australian research to continue to lead the way in the biggest scientific discoveries of the century and provides opportunities for Australian science in numerous fields ranging from biology to fundamental physics.Read moreRead less
Magnetic moments of radioactive beams - an incisive probe of novel structures in neutron-rich nuclei. This project gives Australian scientists, whose expertise underpins recent ground-breaking success, the opportunity for continued leadership in research with international large-scale radioactive beam facilities - a scientific frontier of high technical and intellectual standing. In the process of studying the fundamental goal of nuclear physics, to reach a unified understanding of all nuclei, i ....Magnetic moments of radioactive beams - an incisive probe of novel structures in neutron-rich nuclei. This project gives Australian scientists, whose expertise underpins recent ground-breaking success, the opportunity for continued leadership in research with international large-scale radioactive beam facilities - a scientific frontier of high technical and intellectual standing. In the process of studying the fundamental goal of nuclear physics, to reach a unified understanding of all nuclei, it will develop the basic science needed for future applications of exotic isotopes, e.g. in materials science and medicine. Including experiments in Australia and abroad, it offers an exceptional breadth of training to address the shortage of nuclear expertise needed by the health sector, industry, government, and for national security.Read moreRead less